Lesmeister, Lawrence A. “Larry”

Lawrence Albin Lesmeister passed away in the early hours of December 24th, 2024. He is survived by his wife of over 50 years, Mary ‘Kathy’ Lesmeister (nee Sheehan), daughter, Amy Lesmeister and son, Michael Lesmeister. A father figure to Michelle Fields, mother of Larry’s grandson, Evan Lesmeister. Older brother to Marilyn Frazier, whom he fondly referred to as his ‘baby sister’. He was a loving uncle to Marilyn’s children, Christopher Mueller, Julie LoGrasso (nee Mueller), and David Mueller. 

After completing basic training, he served briefly in the U.S. Army Reserves before embarking on a 50-year career as a building inspector for the City of St. Louis. An avid photographer throughout his life, our dad transformed his passion into a business in the 1980s, capturing the joy and mischief of weddings across St. Louis well into the early 2000s. Known for his playful tactics, he often bribed children with plastic whistles to coax a smile for the camera, much to the annoyance of parents in attendance.

In his younger years, he spent countless hours outdoors with his best friend, Mr. Daniel Fitzhenry, hunting and fishing. Summers at Table Rock Lake were among his happiest times, particularly when he was out on his boat at 4 a.m., eagerly awaiting a bite from a large-mouth bass. His love for animals was equally passionate—though sometimes taken to extremes—such as when he tried to befriend the groundhogs that had made a den in our backyard on Tesson Court.

Our dad was kind, quiet, and incredibly hard-working, with an unwavering love for our mom and family. In his later years, he battled depression, but he always found a way to bring humor into our lives.

To celebrate his life, a Mass will be held at St. Joseph Parish, 6020 Old Antonia Road, Imperial, MO 63052, Friday January 3 at 10:00 am. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Missouri Conservation Department in honor of his deep love for the outdoors and the animals he so joyfully encouraged to visit our home. As his daughter, I also ask that you consider contributing to the Lewy Body Dementia Association to support research into the disease that ultimately claimed him.