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Rev. Lester Herman Dumer, age 95, of Omaha, Nebraska, passed away on Monday, July 22, 2024, at Brookestone of Papillion in Papillion, Nebraska. He was born on December 23, 1928, in Stewart, Minnesota, the son of Fred Dummer and Marie (Otto) Dummer.

After losing his mother when he was just seven, Lester was raised by his eldest sister, Mabel who also taught at the one-room schoolhouse where he began his education.  He graduated from Hutchinson High School and went on to attend the Dunwoody Industrial Institute for Automotive Mechanics. He furthered his education with a Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Texas Arlington, followed by a Bachelor's degree in History from Valparaiso University. While working as an engineer, Lester received a divine calling and entered Concordia Theological Seminary.  He achieved his Bachelor of Divinity in 1964 and was ordained as a Lutheran minister the same year. In 1984 he obtained a Master of Divinity to complete his higher education.
Lester was married to Marion R. Gierich on December 16, 1961, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and they shared 61 years of marriage, faith and family.

During his 55 years of ministry, Lester faithfully served at several parishes including Grace Lutheran Church in Lyons, KS; St. John's Lutheran Church in North Prairie, WI; Trinity Lutheran Church in Coal Valley, IL; St. John's Lutheran Church in East Moline, IL; and lastly at Concordia Lutheran Church in Warsaw, IL where he served until he retired at the age of 90.
Lester also served his country working as a mechanic in the US Army during the Korean War. He was a dedicated member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Louisville, NE, and the Gretna V.F.W. His hobbies included reading, writing, camping and canoeing, having paddled over 2000 miles throughout his lifetime with many of those miles on the annual trips he orchestrated for his parish church youth groups.

He is survived by his loving wife, Marion Dumer of Omaha, Nebraska; daughter Lisa (Jim) Anderson of Omaha, Nebraska; grandchildren Kristen (Phil) Brunner, Heather (Andrew) Ohlsson, Jordan Dumer, and Katherine Anderson; two great-grandchildren, Ava and Noah Ohlsson.

Lester was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Marie Dummer; two sons, Joel and Jeffrey Dumer; and seven siblings, Mabel Erion, Edmund Dummer, Helen Olson, Daynor Dummer, Verna Henke, Dorothy Petrowski, and Vivian Ninke.

A Funeral Service  will be held on Saturday, July 27, 2024, at 10:00 AM at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Louisville, Nebraska, with Rev. Jon Sollberger officiating. Visitation will take place on Friday, July 26, 2024, from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM at Immanuel Lutheran Church.

Lester will be laid to rest with military honors at Omaha National Cemetery on Monday, July 29, 2024, at 9:00 AM.

Memorials may be directed to Immanuel Lutheran Church or Lutheran Bible Translators.