Lester LeRoy Parker III

Lester L. Parker, III of Germantown Hills, IL passed away on August 14, 2025 at OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Facility in Peoria, IL. He was born October 30, 1930 in Peoria to Lester L. Parker, Jr. and Edythe Fogerson Parker. He married Shirley M. Knobloch in 1967. She died February 12, 2002. Lester later married Mary Ann Brown on April 9, 2004.

Lester is survived by his wife, Mary Ann; son, Lester (Christine Hardesty) L. Parker, IV of Bloomington, IL; son, Allen (Sally) Crebo of Germantown Hills; and daughter, Deborah Frank of Springfield, IL.

He worked at P&PU R.R. from 1949 to 1951. He was an Air Force Veteran serving from 1951 to 1955. He went to work for the TP&W R.R. from 1956 to 1984 and was Assistant Chief Clerk in freight accounting. AT&SF R.R. bought TP&W in 1983 and he worked various clerical positions until he retired in 1989.

Lester became a member of Peoria Temple Lodge 46 AF&AM in May 1953. He was a member of Mohammed Shrine Quartermaster Unit, Shrine Antique Car Club, T&T Shrine Club, Greater Shrine Club of Peoria, Abbas Grotto of East Peoria, IL and the American Legion Post 1115 Spring Bay.

He enjoyed participating in Central Illinois parades. He was in the Abbas Grotto Mini Bikes; pulled a trailer in parades for the Shrine Quartermaster Unit and was in the Shrine Antique Car Club, where many will remember his '65 Mustang. The '65 Mustang was originally bought new in 1965 by his father.

He enjoyed golfing with his friends, flower gardening, and dancing to live bands, especially at the Hub Ballroom and at the Itoo Lodge.

He is preceded in death by his parents, first wife, Shirley, and half-sister, Sylvia Fredricksoon.

Visitation will be 10am-12pm Wednesday, August 20, 2025 at The Wilton Mortuary, 2101 N. Knoxville, Ave., Peoria, IL 61603. Masonic services by his lodge will follow at 12pm Wednesday, August 20, 2025 at The Wilton Mortuary, 2101 N. Knoxville Ave., Peoria, IL 61603. Mausoleum Entombment will follow at the Historic Springdale Cemetery, 3014 N. Prospect Rd., Peoria, IL 61603.

Memorials can be made to Shriner Hospital Transportation Fund, Shriners Children Chicago, 2211 N. Oak Park Ave., Chicago, IL 60707.