Lester H. Matzen

Lester H. Matzen, 81, a resident of Eldridge, Iowa who was affectionately known as the “Bike Man” passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday evening, October 1, 2003 following a brave 2-year battle with cancer.
Visitation will be held from 2:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Sunday, October 5, 2003 at Chambers Funeral Home, Eldridge. Private family services will be held Monday at the funeral home with burial to follow at Summit Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the family.
Lester was born October 5, 1921 in Lincoln Township, the son of Henry & Anna (Stoltenberg) Matzen. On February 10, 1946, he married Alberta L. Marten in Davenport.
Lester & Alberta farmed east of Mt. Joy, Iowa for 34 years, retiring in 1979. During his farming career & following his retirement as well, he also worked for the Mohr Implement Company of Eldridge.
In 1980, Les began an ongoing hobby of collecting bicycles and bicycle parts. He restored, repaired and sold bicycles for many years. He became known as the “Bike Man” and in June of this year, the City of Eldridge named their new bike path, the Lester Matzen Bike Path in his honor.
His memberships included the Knights of Pythias, where he was a 25-year member and the National Farmers Organization.
Les had a life-long love for farming and at the early age of 17, won the corn husking championship, beating many other older experienced cornhuskers. He was a community minded person and even won the Best Beard Contest at the Eldridge Bicentennial Celebration in 1971.
In addition to working on his bicycles, he loved to play cards with his many friends at Hardees on a daily basis.
Those left to honor his memory include his beloved wife, Alberta; his daughters & sons-in-law, Joyce & Miles Walker of Clinton, Iowa, Bonnie & Harlan Perry of Davenport, Janet Matzen of Littleton, Colorado and Donna & Dr. Patrick Lorenz of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin; his son & daughter-in-law, Larry & Cara Matzen of Eldridge; sixteen grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; his sisters & brother-in-law, Irene Krambeck and Jeanette & Ron Stoltenberg, all of Davenport; his brother & sister-in-law, Clarence & Eleanor Matzen of DeWitt, Iowa; his sister-in-law, Violet Matzen of Walcott, Iowa; his brother-in-law, Vernon Schwarz of DeWitt; his sister-in-law & brother-in-law, Robert & Bernita Sell of Mesa, Arizona; and many nieces & nephews.
Les was preceded in death by his sister, Vivian Schwarz; his brother, Marvin Matzen; and his brother-in-law, Eldon Krambeck.