LESTER SOCHA

Lester A. Socha, 73, Neenah, died peacefully Thursday, Dec. 23, 2010, surrounded by his family at Cherry Meadows Hospice, following a lengthy battle with cancer. He was born May 22, 1937, in Edgar, son of the late Leo and Sophia (Wilichowski) Socha. Lester graduated from Edgar High School and then attended Badger Business College in Green Bay. He served in the U.S. Navy and was stationed in San Diego. Lester married Dorothy Ziemer on April 7, 1958, in Oconto. He worked as a computer programmer and systems analyst until 1984. Lester then purchased Socha's Place on Commercial Street in Neenah and operated the bar until his retirement in 2004. Lester enjoyed running the cribbage league at the bar, golfing and watching other sports. No party was complete without a polka and Lester's Humstrum. He was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Menasha and the American Legion Hawley-Diekhoff Post No. 33 of Neenah. Survivors include his wife, Dorothy; six children, Rita (Jim) Haapapuro, Gregory (Tracy) Socha, Theresa (Mike Beckerson) Tesch, Randy (Patti) Socha, Anita (Tom) Anderson and Cindy (Dean) Rieckmann; 16 grandchildren, Daniel, Ben, Stephen, Christina, Michael, Tim, Kelsey, Jason, Tate, Nathan, Luke, Jenni, Jacob, Zach, Rebecca and Allison; a sister, Lorraine (Dave) Socha; a brother, Leroy (Marlene) Socha; seven sisters-in-law, Norma Socha, Cora Socha, Margaret Burkard, Elaine Cullen, Martha Ziemer, Mary (Harold) Nehls and Joan (Richard) Erieau; two brothers-in-law, John Gallagher and Ronny (Jan) Ziemer; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by four brothers, Louie, Leo Jr., Leonard (Lorraine) and Lawrence; a sister, Leona (George) Miller; three brothers-in-law, Robert Ziemer, Arnie Burkard and Bill Cullen; and a sister-in-law, Dolores Gallagher. The funeral service will be at 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 27, 2010, at Neenah's Westgor Funeral Home. The visitation will be from 1 p.m. until the hour of service Monday. Military rites will follow the service performed by the American Legion Post No. 33. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Theda Care at Home Hospice or the charity of your choice. The family would like to thank the staff of Theda Care at Home Hospice and Cherry Meadows for their warmth and compassion. Thanks also to the CNA's, his nurses and social worker.