Lester David Wallace, 90, of Fox Lake and formerly Beloit, WI passed away peacefully on January 18, 2013.

He was born on August 14, 1922 on a farm in Turtle Township, Rock County, Wisconsin. He was the third child of Fred and Mabel (Paulson) Wallace. Lester's family tree dates back to Caleb Blodgett, who was largely responsible for the settlement of Beloit. Lester was a graduate of Beloit Memorial High School Class of 1941 and later the University of Wisconsin Madison, Farm Short Course.
He married Elizabeth (Betty) Beadle on May 21, 1949 in Beloit at the First United Methodist Church. They farmed in Turtle Township for twenty years, raising purebred Duroc hogs and registered Brown Swiss dairy cattle. Lester sold the dairy farm and bought a larger beef and hog farm, which was later purchased by the City of Beloit for the Gateway development. After selling the dairy farm, Lester was employed as the agricultural loan officer at the Beloit State Bank for five years. He then purchased and operated a pedigree company "Universal Pedigree" until he retired. His company published pedigrees and sale catalogs for Brown Swiss breeders across the nation.

Lester was always very active in the community and was president of the Clinton School Board, Wisconsin Town Mutual Insurance Association, Turtle Grange and the Wisconsin State Grange. Lester served on the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Advisory Council on Agriculture, the Executive Committee of the National Grange, and was Assistant Chief of the Turtle Fire Department. He was a member of Rotary International, WI Duroc Breeders, WI Brown Swiss Association, Turtle Town Board and a leader in 4-H, FFA, and YMCA. Lester's photo, with his prize Brown Swiss cow, appeared on the cover of the 1951 national magazine, the "Brown Swiss Bulletin." In 1953 Lester was selected as Rock County's "Outstanding Young Farmer." Lester was a member of the First Methodist Church in Beloit. After moving to Fox Lake in 1996, he joined the Trinity Methodist Church in Beaver Dam.

Golf, bowling, fishing, slow pitch ball, football, travel and music were interests of his. Lester played for the 1948 champion Delavan Red Devils semi-pro football team.

Lester is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Betty; three children, Susan (Robin) MacLeish of Portage, Nancy Wallace (Tim Ramsey) of Beloit, and Peter (Sue) Wallace of Markesan; eleven grandchildren, Brian MacLeish, Dr. Sarah (Savas) MacLeish Koumonduros, Dr. Matthew Wallace, Timothy (Nitasha) Wallace, Lea Anne Little, Lynette Erickson, Lisa (Dan) Ellis, Laura (Dave) Albright, Jeremy (Kelley) Thrasher, Jim (Francis) Ramsey, Bethany Ramsey; and eight great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Ruth (Ernest) Doty of Indiana, and many loving nieces, nephews and other relatives.

He is preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Ralph, Glen, and Robert; sister, Helen Wildermuth; and grandson, Sergeant Andrew Wallace, who died in Iraq.
A Celebration of Lester's Life will be held on Saturday, January 26, 2013 at 11:00 AM at Cornerstone Funeral & Cremation Services, 135 Keller Blvd., Beaver Dam, with Rev. Kenneth Prol of Hospice Ministries officiating. Visitation will take place prior to the service at the funeral home, beginning at 10:00 AM. Inurnment will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Fox Lake Fire Department and Beaver Dam Hillside Hospice.

The family would like to thank the Hillside Hospice staff for their care and compassion.

Cornerstone Funeral & Cremation Services in Beaver Dam is honored to be serving the family.