Leslie Earl Meres, 90, of Mankato, formerly of Austin, passed away Wednesday, May 28, 2014, at Laurels Peak Rehabilitation Center, Mankato, Minn.

Leslie was born on Aug. 29, 1923, to Gus Constantine (a Greek immigrant) and Inga Luana (Damm) Meros in Mason City, Iowa. His parents divorced when he was young and his mother changed the spelling of their last name to Meres. A World War II veteran, Leslie served as a radio operator stationed at posts in Egypt, Arabia, and Libya with the mission of closing supply lines to Japan.

Upon his discharge from the service, he began a career as a government meat inspector and retired from Hormel Foods, Austin, in 1979. On Nov. 26, 1949 Leslie was united in marriage to Laura ‘Evelyn’ Peterson of Mason City, Iowa. Evelyn succumbed to cancer in December of 1968, leaving four children.

On July 24, 1971, Leslie married Virginia Mae Bell of Austin. The couple eventually settled in Yuma, Ariz. In 2013, he moved from Yuma to Keystone Communities of Mankato to be closer to his family. Leslie was an avid hunter, trapper, and fisherman, also enjoying the hobbies of whittling and visiting casinos. He entertained all with his quick wit, sense of humor, charm, and storytelling of days gone by.

Left to cherish his memory are his three children, Peggy Meres of Austin, Bruce (Tamera) Meres of Austin, and Brenda (David) Spangenberg of Eagle Lake, Minn.; two step-children David (Teresa) Fischer of Eau Claire, Wis., and Connie (Dale) Spaulding of Gulf Shores, Ala.; 10 grandchildren; seven step-grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

Leslie was preceded in death by his parents Inga Gray, step-father Sam Gray, and Gus Constantine Meros; his first wife Laura ‘Evelyn’ Meres, his second wife Virginia Meres; one daughter Donna Becker; one step-son Larry Fischer; and one step-grandson Daniel Fischer.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, June 9, 2014, at the Worlein Funeral Home Chapel in Austin, with the Rev. Dr. Stephen DeFor officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery with military honors by VFW Post 1216. In lieu of flowers, please direct memorials to the VFW Olaf B. Damm Post 1216 in Austin, of which Leslie was a member. Post 1216 was dedicated to Olaf B. Damm, an ancestor of Leslie’s, the first Mower County casualty of World War I. Worlein Funeral Home of Austin is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.