Lester Maynard Korsness, 91, a lifetime resident of Winneshiek County, Iowa, passed away peacefully in his sleep on the evening of December 27, 2025.
Lester was born on June 29, 1934, on the Korsness family farm outside of Hesper, Iowa, to Lawrence and Melissa (Klegseth) Korsness. He attended Hesper School through the eighth grade and was a 1952 graduate of Mabel High School. Following his education, Lester honorably served his country in Korea.
Upon returning from service, Lester married Thelma Nelson at Hesper Lutheran Church. Together, they established their home and farmed in Hesper Township on the land where Lester was raised. They were blessed with four children. While their children were in school, they opened their home to two foreign exchange students from Norway, forming lifelong international bonds.
Lester was a man of many talents and deep commitments. He farmed for most of his life and served as an agent and Board President for Norwegian Mutual Insurance for many years. A proud Norwegian, Lester was an active member of the Sons of Norway and a dedicated volunteer with Vesterheim. He spent countless hours researching family genealogy. He was an accomplished woodworker, finding great joy in woodcarving and woodturning. A lifelong member of Hesper Lutheran Church, Lester served the congregation in numerous capacities. He also enjoyed the camaraderie of playing dartball with the Hesper team for many years.
Lester truly valued togetherness. Whether it was a home-cooked meal or a trip to Culver’s or Pizza Ranch, sharing food and conversation with family and friends were important to him. His favorite activity was playing cards - whist, 500, or dirty hearts - and in more recent years working on puzzles.
Lester is survived by daughter Linda (Jeff) Hernes of Shoreview, Minnesota; son-in-law Edward Darrington; son-in-law Mark Jepsen; daughter-in-law Nicolle Korsness; twelve grandchildren Joseph (Lorien Sopchak) Darrington, Heidi Muenchow, Jonathan (Wren) Darringway, Tyler (Heather) Jepsen, Nathan (Lauren) Jepsen, Joel Jepsen, Brian Hernes, Melissa (Geno) Pickerign, Kelsie Korsness, Dylan Korsness, Cameron (Aubrey) Korsness, and Jensen Korsness; a sister Helen Danielson of Roseville, Minnesota; sister-in-law Kay Korsness of Stewartville, Minnesota; seven great-grandchildren; and two Norwegian exchange students Hanne Kalstad-Vestaby and Erik Eggum.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Thelma; daughter, Lois Darrington; daughter, Martha Jepsen; son, Paul Korsness; brother, Norman Korsness; sister-in-law Margaret Place; brother-in-law, Curtis Danielson; half-sister Tilda; and half-brother Oscar.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at the Hesper Lutheran Church in Hesper, Iowa, with Reverend David Werges officiating. The service will also be live-streamed on the Burr Oak and Hesper Lutheran Parish Facebook Page. Burial will follow in the Hesper Lutheran Cemetery. Friends and family are invited to a visitation on Friday, January 2, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel, and again on Saturday one hour prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Vesterheim, Hesper Lutheran Church, Winneshiek County Historical Society, or Luther College. |
