Lester Claude Hurlbert, 98, died peacefully at his home in East Jordan.

  He was born on June 23, 1918, in East Jordan, the son of Roy and Nettie (Cihak) Hurlbert.

  In his youth, Lester worked for Donald Clark Construction Company until his enlistment into the United States Army along with the late Charley Delbert Dennis on March 13, 1942.  Lester served as a U.S. Army Sergeant in the 830th Engineer Aviation Battalion with the 8th Air Forces during World War II.   He served in England from September 1, 1942 until the landing on Omaha Beach, and then through France and Germany.

  After the end of the war, he married Ruby Brown in Hitchin, England on August 24, 1945.  They made their home in East Jordan.  Ruby passed away on February 22, 1993, after 48 years of marriage.

  After the war, Lester worked for the Donald Clark Construction Company and drove school bus for the East Jordan Public Schools.  Lester later drove truck to Grand Rapids for the United States Postal Service and was a self-employed maintenance man for many years at the Lockwood Hospital, now known as McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital.  He also bought the first stump removal machine in the area and covered most of Northern Michigan just prior to the elm trees starting to die off.  Some folks may remember back in the 1950s and 1960, Lester and Ruby had a popcorn & cotton candy truck.  In later years, Lester worked distribution for the Petoskey News Review.

  Lester was a man that people liked.  He always was willing to lend a helping hand and share a couple of stories. He will be remembered fondly by those people he brought joy and a joke to with every encounter.

  Lester is survived by a couple of nieces, nephews and cousins in England as well as many special friends in East Jordan. 

  Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, May 30, 2017, at 5:00 P.M. at the Lighthouse Missionary Church in East Jordan.

  Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 1:00 P.M. until 5:00 P.M. at church.

  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Lighthouse Missionary or the Hospice of Northwest Michigan.

  Arrangements by the Penzien Funeral Homes, Inc. in East Jordan.

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