Lester Jacob Miller

Lester Jacob Miller, age 99, of Waunakee passed away peacefully on Friday, October 6, 2023 at home with family. He was 2 weeks away from his 100^th birthday and now gets to spend it in heaven with his wife Betty.

Lester was born on October 21, 1923 in East Bristol, Wisconsin. He was the son of Herbert and Dora (Goetzinger) Miller.

As a young man he worked on the family farm until moving to Waunakee in 1936. He served in the U.S. Navy Seabees from 1945-1946. He worked for Carl F. Statz for 48 years as a mechanic until retirement in 1988.

Lester married the love of his life Elizabeth (Betty) Speth on October 25, 1949. They were blessed with 68 years of marriage and 7 children.

Les was a great mechanic and handyman. He had an extreme amount of knowledge of fixing small engines and rebuilding Cub Cadets. He did everything with detail and passion. He was a very patient and easy-going man and would help out and fix anything at any time. He loved spending time with family, playing cards, watching sports, gardening, bowling, traveling, and working on projects in his shop.

He is survived by his children Judy, Dan (Diane), Tom, Mike (Jenny), Steve (Janet), Ron; brother Gordy (Nancy); sister Gladys Mulhern; brother-in-law Joe (Anne) Speth; along with many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Betty; infant son; brothers Paul and Herbert (Gloria) Miller; sisters Ellen, Arlene (Bill Mack), Doris (Tom Whittaker), and Mary (Don Hamill); in-laws Anton and Elizabeth Speth; brothers-in-law Jerome and Roman Speth, Clarence Hardy, Werner Kelter, and Jim Virnig; sisters-in-law Leona Virnig, Evelyn Kelter, and Irene Hardy.

The family would like to thank U.W. Hospital staff and Agrace Hospice for their care.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, October 20, 2023 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 209 South Street, Waunakee, WI 53597. Friends may call at the church from 9 a.m. until the time of Mass. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. A reception at Rex’s Innkeeper will follow.

Please share your memories of Les here on his Tribute Wall.

Winn-Cress Funeral & Cremation Service

5785 Hwy Q, Waunakee

(608) 849-4513