Lester Joseph Blackshaw, 93, of Mexico, passed away on Saturday, June 26, 2021, at Noble Health Audrain Community Hospital.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 3, at Arnold Funeral Home with Deacon Lou Leonatti officiating. Burial will follow in Resurrection Catholic Cemetery in Wellsville.
Visitation is Saturday from 1 p.m. until time of service at the funeral home.
Lester was born on Nov. 14, 1927 at home in Montgomery County, the eldest of three children born to Samuel Henry and Hester Marie (Lowry) Blackshaw. On May 26, 1951 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Columbia, he married Wilma Martin. She survives.
Mr. Blackshaw graduated from Wellsville High School in 1946. In August of 1946, he joined the U.S. Army serving during World War II. At the end of his service, Lester was stationed in Japan.
In 1953, Lester began working for the Wellsville Post Office until becoming a rural carrier in New Florence. He retired from the U.S. Postal Service in January 1992. Lester served as treasurer for WellsVilla for many years and had been a member of the Wellsville Aquatic Board. After retirement and later moving to Mexico in March 2001, he enjoyed driving cars for Pearl Motor Company and overseeing the care of his uncle’s farm in rural Wellsville. Farming was always Lester’s hobby before and after retirement.
Mr. Blackshaw was a member of St. Brendan Catholic Church, where he often volunteered in the school cafeteria.
Survivors include his wife, Wilma Martin Blackshaw of the home; two daughters, Sarah (Larry) Thompson of Mexico and Stacy (Rick) Kaiser of Mexico; five grandchildren, Scott (Danielle) Thompson of Chesterfield, Kayla (Brent) Watanabe of Milwaukee, Wis., Megan (Derek) Brown of Jefferson City, Sydney (Daniel) Pratt of Holts Summit and Molly Kaiser of Mexico; eight great-grandchildren, Hayden and Asher Thompson, Julian and Norah Watanabe, Kaden and Levi Klempke, and Jackson and Colton Pratt; one sister, Joyce (Glenn) Blackshaw Freyer of Wellsville; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Lester was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel Henry and Hester Marie Blackshaw; one son, Martin Joseph Blackshaw, who passed away in 2009; one brother, Glenn David Blackshaw; and one nephew, John Blackshaw.
Memorial donations may be made to the Central Missouri Honor Flight or the donor’s choice. All may be sent in care of Arnold Funeral Home, 425 S. Jefferson, Mexico, MO 65265.
Online condolences may be left at www.arnoldfh.com.
