Lester Elam

Lester Lee Elam, 70, of Hammond, Ill., died at 9:20 a.m. on Feb. 28, in VA Illiana Health Care System of Danville, Ill. He was born Sept. 9, 1938, in Moweaqua, Ill., the son of Lester Ward and Kathryn Edna Patrick Elam.

He held various positions with the railroad and car dealership and did snow removal for the State of Illinois. He was a member of the Decatur Moose Lodge 684 since 1986 and National Rifle Association, including its millennium honor roll.

Surviving are his sons, Michael Elam and Tim Elam both of New Jersey and Lester Elam, Jr. of Arizona; his daughters, Beth Ann Elam and Sherry Elam, both of New Jersey and Beth Ann Willette and Michelle Messner, both of Arizona; five grandchildren; brothers, Rennie Elam of Riverton, Ill., Ronnie Elam of Mt. Auburn, Ill. and Tommy Elam of Taylorville, Ill.; step-brothers, Charles Tyler of Taylorville, James Tyler of Oregon; sisters, Nancy Reubart of Iowa, Donna Stafford of Taylorville and Frances Remark of Iowa; as well as several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Randy Elam; a sister, Kathleen Vitale; brother, Eugene Tyler; two step-sisters, Clara Muncey and Martha Jeffers; and two step brothers, Roy Tyler, Jr. and Tom Forrest.

Services were held March 4, 2009 at Camp Butler National Cemetery, with military honors conducted by Interveterans Burial Detail of Sangamon County, Illinois.