Imogene "Jean" Lester

Imogene S. “Jean” Halsema Lester, 96, of West Lafayette and formerly of West Point, IN passed away at Cumberland Point Health Care in West Lafayette 5:00 PM Friday December 23, 2022 where she had resided the past nine years. Jean was born July 12,1926 in West Point, IN the daughter of the late John and Blanche Stover Halsema and attended Gilboa High School. Her marriage was to Bernard P. Lester in Otterbein, IN January 15, 1945, and he preceded her in death June 5, 2004. She was a member of St. Mary Cathedral, the DAV, 40 & 8 and the American Legion Post 11 Ladies Auxiliaries. Jean was employed as a pastry chef at Purdue University from 1946 until 1950. She was a waitress at Lester’s Restaurant and Tavern in Clarks Hill from 1963 until 1968, and from 1968 until 1973 was employed as foods manager at the 4H Center in West Lafayette. She enjoyed cooking, sewing, and quilting; mushroom hunting and doing crafts. Surviving is a daughter, Paula Taylor (Ted) of West Point, IN; a sister Mary Haywood of Lafayette, IN; nine grandchildren, Ryan (Mary), Kelly, Nathan and Tristan Lester; Troy (Amy), Neil, Ross and Micah (Alica) Taylor and Deanna Ortman (Mark); 13 great-grandchildren, Shanta Payne, Justin Lester, Hunter Qualls, Katye Lester; Trent, Seth and Lucas Taylor; Jocelyn, Daisy, Dixie and Duke Taylor; Forrest and Alta Ortman along with four great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two sons, Randell G. and John D. Lester; three sisters, Geneva Lester DeVault, Charlotte Cain and Kathryn Anoskey, and by three brothers, John W. “Bud”, Dan and Philip Halsema. Visitation will be held at St. Mary Cathedral in Lafayette from 10:30 AM until the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30 AM Friday December 30, Fr. Dennis J. O’Keeffe officiating. The interment will follow in Tippecanoe Memory Gardens, West Lafayette. Memorials may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice. Hahn-Groeber Funeral Home of Lafayette is honored to serve the Lester family. Please leave memories and condolences at www.hahngroeberfuneralhome.com