LAGRANGE -- Lester William Pletcher, 99, of 787 N. Detroit St., formerly of Shipshewana, died at 7 a.m. Thursday (May 25, 2006) at Miller's Merry Manor. He was born Nov. 26, 1906, in Millersburg to Landon and Luella (Johns) Pletcher. On Oct. 26, 1929, in LaGrange, he married the former Irma I. Weirich. She preceded him in death on Oct. 3, 1998. He is survived by three sons, Delmer Pletcher of Howe, Dwayne Pletcher of Shipshewana and Donald Pletcher of Elkhart; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Wilma (Etril) Leinbach of Goshen and Velda (Lee) Hooley of Sturgis. He was preceded in death by one sister, Leatha Yoder. Friends may call today from 2 until the 6 p.m. funeral service at Miller-Stewart Funeral Home, 1003 S. Main St., Middlebury. The Rev. Dale Worcester will officiate, and the family has scheduled a graveside service to take place at Shore Cemetery, Shipshewana. Mr. Pletcher, along with his wife, founded Pletcher's Pacing Acres in Shipshewana in 1935. He raced many top horses around the Midwest in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. He was introduced in the Harness Horse Hall of Fame in Indiana and Illinois and also the Winning Hall of Standard Breed Horse Racing in Indiana and Illinois. Mr. Pletcher's horse-racing legacy was passed down to his sons and grandsons who remain in the racing business today. He was also self-employed as a canned milk hauler, selling both to Silver Cup Bread for 31 years and then to County Line Cheese for 10 years. In his earlier years he was self-employed with his own truck hauling freight, including livestock and gravel. He was also a farmer in Shipshewana, but was best known as a horse breeder and owner, mostly racing and stabling in Chicago, Detroit and in the fair circuits. Right Honor, Pacing Bay and Sherries Honor were just a few of the many winners he bred and raced to victory. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the Shipshewana Church of the Nazarene. Online condolences may be sent by visiting millerstewartfuneralhome.com.
Published: Saturday, May 27, 2006 -- The Truth, A5