Lester Allen Stover

fighting liver cancer since June 2012. Les was born in Berrien Springs, MI on June

4, 1932 to Samuel Orvis Stover and Alzina E. Stover, both of whom preceded him

in death. He was also preceded in death by his two brothers, Max (Dorothy)

Stover, St. Joseph, MI, and Marion (Charlotte) Stover, Berrien Springs, MI, three

sisters; Arlene (Frank) Bartel, Leesburg, FL, Evelyn (Bill) Bartel, Baroda, MI, and

Elaine (Milford) Bonham, Winter Haven, FL, and one step-daughter, Kelli Myers of

Kokomo, IN.

Les is survived by his wife of 21 years, Dawn Stover, sons; Leonard Stover,

Cleveland, OH, Duane (Debbie) Stover, Dowagiac, MI, daughters; Donna Stover,

Sarasota, FL, Diane (Todd) Shultz, Cassopolis, MI, and Wanda (Les) Bloom,

Constantine, MI, and two step-children; Kim Cook, Niles, MI and Jim Hebner,

Branson, MO. He is also survived by 15 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, and

numerous nieces and nephews.

Les purchased the historic 240 acre John S. Gage Farm in Dowagiac, MI in 1954.

He later bought two neighboring farms for a total of 400 acres owned and over

1,000 acres farmed. He raised corn, soy beans, hay, cattle, hogs, and was

named District Conservationist of the Year in the early 1960's.

In 1955 Les enlisted in the Army where he earned the rank of SPC 3. While in the

Army he studied to be an anti-aircraft artillery gun mechanic in Ft. Bliss, TX and

served as a guard at the hydrogen bomb plant in Aiken, SC.

In 1971 Les sold his farm and joined the Conklin Company where he built a sales

organization with 72 distributors in 11 states. He served as a District Manager for

several years.

In 1984 Les changed careers again and became the manager of large apartment

complexes in Niles, MI and South Bend, IN. Within six months he was named

manager. He also became a school bus driver for Niles Schools, running up to five

routes a day.

In 1996 Les married Dawn Martin of Niles, MI and in 1998 he retired and they

moved to Lakeland, FL. Never one to sit idle for long, Les worked at Home Depot

in Lakeland for five years and then another five years for a large plant nursery

before retiring again in 2007.

Despite working a 1,000 acre farm without a single full-time employee and

simultaneously working a shift at the local factory, Les always found time to coach

baseball. Throughout his life he coached little league, Senior League and Connie

Mack league teams. He was known for being tough but fair and was particularly

good with the "troubled players". In the early 1960's he helped Keith Russom

build the first little League Fields in Dowagiac which are still in use today.

Les will be remembered as the hardest working man on earth. An exceedingly

kind man who lead his family by example, his dry wit kept family and friends

laughing even in the toughest of times.

Memorial services will be held at Schalamar Creek Club House 4500 HWY 92,

Lakeland, FL on February 9, 2018 from 10:30-12:30. Burial will be at Sarasota

National Cemetery in Sarasota, FL. On February 9, 2018 at 2:30 In

lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to: South Eastern Guide

4270 77th St. E Palmetto, FL 34221, Sarasota National Cemetery Patriot Plaza,

or Moffit Cancer Center 12902 Magnolia Dr. Tampa, FL 33612.