Gary G. Lesnet, 76

Gary G. Lesnet, 76 of Montpelier died Thursday, September 2, 2021 after a brief illness at the Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center.  He was born on August 16, 1945 in Angola, Indiana to George W. and L. Eleanor (Briner) Lesnet.  Gary graduated from Edon High School in 1963 and then went on to serve his country in the United States Army in Fort Bennington, Georgia during the Vietnam War.  On March 30, 1971 he married Kayleen D. Short in Edon and she preceded him in death on February 4, 1994.

Gary was a member of the Edon United Methodist Church and the Edon Masonic Lodge #474.  For over 45 years he worked as fuel delivery driver for several businesses including BP, SOHIO, and Saneholtz-McKarns.  Farming was Gary’s life-long passion.  He also raised Suffolk sheep and did the annual Wool parade from his parent’s home to Gary’s home on January 1st for the lambing season.

Gary is survived by two daughters, Stacy (Andy) Schaffter of Montpelier and Molly (Brad) Hoag of Ossian, Indiana; five granddaughters Elaine, April, Kelly, Melissa, and Rachel; a brother Hugh (Kathleen) Lesnet of Edon; two sisters, Janet Beggs of Pasadena, California and Nora Lesnet of Orange, California and a dear friend Mary Gustwiller of Defiance.

He was preceded in death by his parents and wife.

Visitation hours for Gary will be on Monday, September 6, 2021 from 2-7:30 pm at the Thompson Funeral Home on Main Street in Montpelier with a Masonic Service at 7:30 pm.  Services will be on Tuesday at 11 am at the Edon United Methodist Church with Pastor Doug Widdowson to officiate.  The interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Montpelier with military graveside rites by the Montpelier Veterans.  In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Stacy Schaffter to establish a 4-H scholarship.