Lester joined the U.S. Navy at Des Moines, Iowa, and was inducted October 5, 1950. He was sent to Great Lakes Naval Training Center, Chicago, Illinois, and trained for thirteen weeks. Then he entered the Combat Information Center (CIC) Radar School at Norfolk, Virginia, and trained for six months. Lester was assigned to the fleet on the U.S.S. Blackwood Destroyer Escort 219 where they trained for anti-submarine warfare. They sailed from Newfoundland to the Caribbean and the southern portion of South America. They were based out of Norfolk, Virginia; Key West, Florida; and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; and provided escort for the "Bermuda Yacht Race" from Rhode Island to Bermuda. Lester was discharged on July 24, 1954, as a Petty Officer First Class in Key West, Florida, and received the Good Conduct Medal.
Funeral Service for Lester Joens was held Monday, January 30, 2006 at 10:30 a.m. at Ohde Funeral Home in Manning, Iowa.
Reverend Marshall Brown, of First Presbyterian Church in Manning officiated. Anna Bergman was vocalist with Connie Siepker as organist. Casketbearers were Marvin Wittrock, Dave Wittrock, Chip Wittrock, Dale Wittrock, Jim Rohe, Tom Rohe, Cletus Behrens, and Skip Joens. Honorary bearers were Chad Wenger, Ryan Wenger, Annie Musfeldt, Austin Musfeldt, Adam Musfeldt, Natalie Musfeldt, Ashley Musfeldt. Interment was held in the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Manning with Military Honors from the Manning Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3517 and American Legion Post 22.
Lester Edwin, son of Henry and Ida (Schroeder) Joens, was born May 2, 1928, at Gray, Iowa. He graduated from Manning High School in 1945.
On October 5, 1950, Les enlisted in the United States Navy and served as radio operator aboard the USS J. Douglas Blackwood. Upon receiving his honorable discharge on July 29, 1954, Les returned to Manning and began farming southeast of town.
On September 5, 1960, Les was united in marriage with Laura Wittrock at Halbur. Four children were born to this union. Les and Laura continued to farm and from 1981 to 1985, he also worked as a distributor and was a franchise holder of Conklin Products. In 1982, he started as an agent for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. Laura died November 7, 1989.
On October 20, 1990, Les was blessed with a second marriage, this time with Delone Brockman Musfeldt at Las Vegas, Nevada. Les and Delone made their home in Omaha, Nebraska until 1995, when Les retired and they settled in Carroll.
Les was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Manning for more than 40 years and served as elder. He was a member of the Manning Community School Board for 12 years and served one term as president. He also served on the School of Nursing Advisory Board for DMACC in Carroll and the Carroll County Conservation Board. He was a member of Manual Lodge No. 450 in Manning, the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars of which he was a drill team member for 19 years. He was selected as Farmer of the Year in 1973 by the Manning Jaycees of which he was a member. Les was also a member of the National Limousin Cattle Association and served as president of the Iowa Limousin Association.
Early in the year 2005, Les experience a decline in his health and died of leukemia on Thursday, January 26, 2006, at his home in Carroll, Iowa. He was 77 years of age.
Lester is survived by his wife Delone Joens of Carroll; daughters Deanne and husband Randy Mundt of Urbandale and Tonya and husband Dan Hobbs of Grimes; sons Jeff Joens and friend Diane Lappe of Manning and Brian Joens and wife Lana Fogue-Joens of Des Moines; granddaughters: Erica and Stephanie Mundt of Urbandale; a brother Ivan Joens of Ankeny; and nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Laura Wittrock Joens, brother Allan Joens and a sister-in-law Betty Karnes Joens.