Leslie J. Scherer

Leslie J (Les) Scherer, 86, of St. Joseph passed away Friday, July 9, 2010 at Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph. Visitation will be held from 4:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. with services at 6:00 P.M. and military rites to follow, Wednesday, July 14, 2010 at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph with pastor Jim Gray officiating. Memorials may be made to the Berrien County Cancer Service. Those wishing to sign the memory book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Les was born December 17, 1923 in Keeler Township, MI to William & Minnie (McKinley) Scherer. Les came from a family of five boys and three girls. He attended Gregory grade School in Keeler Township and in 1942 graduated from Dowagiac High School. He then joined the Army Air force in December of 1942. Les attended various Technical Schools throughout the U.S. and ended up in the 20th Air Force bomb group on the Island of Guam in the Marianas Island group as a Radar Communications specialist with a rank of T/Sgt. His squadron was a very heavy bombardment unit of B-29 Super Fortresses that carried out missions on the Japanese mainland and many other islands including Iwo Jima, Truk and Okinawo. He also spent brief periods on other Pacific Islands such as Kwajalein, Johnston Atoll, Saipan, Tinian, and Oahu in the Hawaiian Islands. Before being sent to the Pacific he had a brief Assignment in Puerto Rico at Bourinkin Army Air Force base. Les met the love of his life Anna (Annie) V. Twyford of Russell, Ark. They married October 20, 1946 and lived their entire life in the area. He worked at Montgomery Ward in St. Joseph as a T.V. Serviceman for seven years, V.M. Corporation of Benton Harbor for 17 years and Leco Corporation in St. Joseph for 15 years and retired in 1989. In his spare time he enjoyed flying, fishing, hunting, rummage sales and loved fixing things. Les is survived by his four sons David L. (Sharon) Scherer of St. Joseph, Dennis L. (Diane) Scherer of Aiken, SC, Richard K. Scherer of St. Joseph, and Kevin Scherer of St. Joseph; six grandchildren Shelly (Kevin) Langston of Stevensville, Dennis Scherer, Jr. of Aiken, SC, Bryan (Toni) Scherer of Livonia, MI, Jesse Scherer, Rachel Scherer, and Scott Scherer all of Atlanta, GA; three great grandchildren Drew, Trevor and Ella. Les was preceded in death by his wife Anna Scherer on March 26, 2004, parents, three sisters Helen, Virginia and Mary Lou; four brothers John, Chester, Louis and Lawrence.