Lester "Les" L. Marreel
February 9, 1940 - February 11, 2023
In the quiet hours of the morning on Saturday, February 11, 2023, Lester "Les" Marreel slipped peacefully from this world and into the next due to complications from heart surgery. He was surrounded by an outpouring of love, compassion, and grace as his family was with him in his final moments
Les had just celebrated his 83rd birthday two days prior to his passing and the impact he had on those around him during his lifetime is immeasurable. There are many, MANY stories and memories his friends and family will cherish as we fondly remember the man he was.
Les was born to Walter and Erna Marreel and was welcomed at home by his big brother, Marvin. Several years later his younger brother David came into the family and Les took great pride watching David grow up as he attended many of his high school and college activities.
A graduate of Hooper High School, Les lived in Hooper nearly all of his life. He had quite the athletic career in high school where he played football and was an outstanding competitor in track. He enrolled at Midland Lutheran College in Fremont but left school early to serve his country in the Army during the Vietnam War. Les was extremely proud to travel the world during his time in the service and regularly told stories of his time in jump school. Jumping out of airplanes was his favorite thing to do.
Les was very active in the Hooper community as he was the head of the City of Hooper Municipalities for many years and also was a member of the Hooper Fire Department. He was the public address announcer during Logan View High School's football games in the early 90s.
Brandon, Les' son, was his pride and joy. "Pops" attended every single one of Brandon's football games and wrestling matches. When Brandon competed in the 1995 state wresting championship finals, Pops bought several rounds of drinks for everyone at the local bar. Pops and Brandon spent hours and hours working on home improvement projects and tinkering in the garage. Pops was extremely proud of his son both as a teenager and as Brandon grew older and became a father himself.
But Les' life didn't really begin until he became a grandfather. His granddaughters, McKayla and Peyton, meant the absolute world to him. The rough and gruff man that so many knew became a big ol' teddy bear when it came to his girls. "Pappy" had very close relationships with his girls and would regularly call them to remind them Nebraska volleyball was going to be on TV or to let them know how many home runs Aaron Judge had hit. He attended countless dance recitals, volleyball tournaments, basketball games, and Grandparents' Day celebrations at the girls' school. He helped Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny when everyone was at church and his hand-decorated Christmas cookies were legendary as was his homemade lasagna.
Les was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Marvin who passed away in 1994. He is survived by his son Brandon, and his wife Heather, and their daughters, McKayla and Peyton. Les' brother David, and his wife Sharyn, and their children Stephanie, Ashley, and Trevor, will miss him terribly. Also left to cherish his memory is his sister-in-law, Connie Havekost, and her husband Don. Les was very close with his nephew's family, Joel and Tammi Marreel and their children, Josh and Abi. He is also survived by his niece Jill Woodward, her husband Bart, and their children Laynee, Addison, and Zac. Les' cousins Marge Hemminghaus and Julie Totten will also miss him dearly.
Coffee hour at the gas station won't be the same without Les' boisterous laugh every morning and no one will ever cheer for the Kansas Jayhawks, the New York Yankees, and the Las Vegas Raiders quite like Les did.
We love you, Pappy, and we will miss you forever.
There is no viewing but the family will receive friends on Thursday, February 16, 2023 at Ludvigsen's Hooper Funeral Chapel from 5pm to 7pm. The memorial service will be Friday, 10:30am, also at the funeral home in Hooper. Burial will follow in the Hooper Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Hooper Volunteer Fire and Rescue Departments and ''Miles For Heroes''(a Nebraska Veteran's Organization).
Online guestbook at www.hooper-scribner.com
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