James E. Kiester Sr., 91, of 20 Orchard Drive, Grove City, formerly of Fisher Hill in Sharon, died peacefully at 8:15 p.m. Friday at the Grove City Medical Center after an extended illness.

Born in North Braddock, Dec. 19, 1917, he was the son of Henry Kiester and Vernetta (Sutton) Kiester.

He was a graduate of Harrisville High School and had been a letter carrier for the Postal Service in Sharon for more than 25 years.

A lover of the outdoors, he was an avid hunter and fisherman. He was a volunteer for Meals on Wheels for years.

Mr. Kiester was a member of the St. Joseph Church in Sharon, where he had served as an usher for many years. He also was a member of the Knights of Columbus of Sharon and the Farrell VFW Post 5286, where he had been an officer and volunteer in its honor guard for many years.

He served in the Army as a first lieutenant during World War II and received the Victory Medal, the American Campaign Medal and the Asiatic Pacific Ribbon.

Surviving are a daughter, Donna and her husband, Thomas Latsko, of East Lansing, Mich.; four sons and three daughters-in-law, James E. Kiester Jr. of Los Angeles, Dennis J. and Barbara Kiester of West Sunbury, Harold M. and Paula Kiester of Mesa, Ariz., and Ted W. and Kathy Kiester of Sharon; and three sisters and their spouses, Amelda "Spud" and James Bennett of Harrisville, Louise and Huck Baseler of Grove City and Emmy Lou and John Holtz of Harrisville. He also is survived by 10 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

His wife, Elizabeth M. (Weller) Kiester, who he married Jan. 6, 1942, died March 1, 1974.

Besides his wife and his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, William Kiester; four sisters, Mary Ellen Daugherty, Elizabeth "Betty" Covert, Anna Miller and Margaret "Peg" Love; and a grandson, Chad Kiester.

<B>KIESTER</B> — Friends of James E. Kiester Sr., who died Friday, Oct. 2, 2009, will be received from 11 a.m. to noon Tuesday at the <B>Harold W. Stevenson Funeral Home, </B>Sharon, where the funeral service will follow at noon. The Rev. Thomas Dugan of the St. Joseph Church in Sharon will officiate. Burial, with military honors by the Farrell VFW Post 5286 Honor Guard, will be at the St. Rose Cemetery, Hermitage.Donations may be made to Meals on Wheels, 396 Boulle Blvd., Sharon, PA 16146.