LAGRANGE, Ind. - Lester W. Pletcher, 99, 787 N. Detroit St., died on Thursday, May 25, 2006, at Miller’s Merry Manor, LaGrange.  He was born Nov. 26, 1906, in Millersburg, to Landon and Luella (Johns) Pletcher.  On Oct. 26, 1929, he married Irma I. Weirich.  She died Oct. 3, 1998.

He was formerly of Shipshewana and was self-employed as a farmer, canned milk hauler selling to both Silver Cup Bread for 31 years and County Line Cheese for 10.  He was also self-employed with his own truck, hauling freight.  He was best known as a horse breeder and owner, racing in Chicago, Detroit and the fair circuits.  He and his wife founded Pletcher’s Pacing Acres, Shipshewana, in 1935.  He raced many top horses in the Midwest.  He was included in the Indiana and Illinois Harness Horse Hall of Fame and in the Indiana and Illinois Winning Hall of Standard Breed Horse Racing.

He is survived by three sons, Delmer Pletcher, Howe; Dwayne Pletcher, Shipshewana; and Donald Pletcher, Elkhart; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Wilma (Etril) Leinbach, Goshen, and Velda (Lee) Hooley, Sturgis, Mich.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, May 27 at the Miller-Stewart Funeral Home, with the Rev. Dale Worcester officiating.  A family graveside service was held at Shore Cemetery, Shipshewana.  Memorial contributions may be directed to Shipshewana Church of the Nazarene.