116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Obituaries
The Gazette publishes obituaries on a daily basis. Use the search field above to search for obituaries by name or keyword. Readers can submit an obituary or submit a milestone to The Gazette. The obituary must be submitted before 1 p.m. for publication on thegazette.com at 6 p.m. and in the daily edition the next day, with the exception of obituaries for Sunday publication, which must be submitted by 1 p.m. on Fridays.
Lesta Jean Robinson
LESTA JEAN ROBINSON
Marion
Lesta Jean Robinson, 91, of Johnston, Iowa, formerly of Marion and Masonville, died Friday, June 4, 2021. A private service for immediate family is scheduled at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories. Others may watch a livestream of the funeral service for Lesta on the funeral home website tribute page, under "photos and videos or media," on Tuesday, June 8, starting at 11 a.m. A private burial will follow at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.
Lesta was born Nov. 15, 1929, on her family's farm in Buchanan County to Leland and Bessie Nightingale Long. Her family later moved to a farm in the Spring Grove community between Troy Mills and Coggon. Lesta graduated from Coggon High School in 1948. She worked at Biederman's Grocery Store in Coggon until 1950 when she married the John W. (Jack) Robinson of Masonville. Together they farmed and raised two sons in the Silver Creek community. Lesta also worked at Fareway in Manchester. They retired from farming in 1981 and moved to Marion. Lesta later worked at Bishops Cafeteria and sold Avon products. Faith, family and food were important to Lesta. She was known for her delicious pies and cooking up a storm at family holiday gatherings.
Lesta was preceded in death by her parents, Leland and Bessie Nightingale Long; her husband, Jack and son Kelly, both in 1985; and her brother, Maynard of Melbourne, Fla., in 2017. She is survived by her son, Rick (Wendy) Robinson of Granger; granddaughters, Torey (Chris) Cuellar of Bondurant, Jordin Robinson of Chicago, Ill., and Brenna Robinson of Iowa City; daughter-in-law, Marylin Valley of Cedar Rapids; grandsons, Andy Robinson-Valley and Matt (Joan) Robinson-Valley of Cedar Rapids; Aaron (Amy) Robinson-Valley of Central City; and six great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please consider a donation to the Silver Creek United Methodist Church, c/o First UM Church, P.O. Box 122, Rowley, IA 52329, or a local hospice.
Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.
Daily Newsletters