Lester Henry Johnson

Of Arnold, Missouri, formerly of Joliet, passed away unexpectedly at the age of 66 years.

Born on August 4, 1959, in Joliet, Illinois, Les was the son of the late Russell and Eileen Johnson. He was also preceded in death by his beloved daughter, Nichole, and his brother, Russell.

Les spent his career as a machinist with ExxonMobil, where he was known not only for his hard work but also for his passion for the company's wildlife habitat program. He took great pride in caring for the beehives on the ExxonMobil property and enjoyed sharing his knowledge with the children who visited, teaching them about the importance of bees and conservation.

A gifted handyman, Les was always willing to lend a helping hand to neighbors, family, and friends. Whether offering advice or tackling repairs himself, he could fix just about anything. He took great pride in maintaining his home and believed in teaching his daughters to be independent and capable. From changing oil and replacing brakes to tackling countless home and automotive repairs, he showed them that there was nothing they couldn't learn to do themselves.

One of Les's greatest hobbies was restoring and caring for his beloved 1965 red Mustang. He loved spending time in the garage working on it, always finding another detail to improve or project to complete. The Mustang reflected his craftsmanship, patience, and pride in doing things the right way.

Les also loved music and was a familiar face at concerts at Joliet Junior College, where he enjoyed supporting his wife, Nancy, and spending time with her many music friends.

Above all else, Les loved his family. The time he spent with those he loved meant the most to him, and the lessons he taught through his actions—hard work, kindness, self-reliance, and generosity—will continue to live on in them.

Les is survived by his loving wife Nancy Lehman of Arnold, Missouri. His daughters Sarah (Cody) and Alison (Jake) and his stepdaughters Sarah and Carly. His sisters Denise, Linda (the late Ted), Robin and Sally (Lowell). His cherished grandchildren Andrew, Tony, Jackson, Connor, Dylan, Cooper, and Keaton. He also leaves behind many extended family members, friends, neighbors and all whose lives were made better by knowing him.

Though Les is gone, his legacy of kindness, generosity, hard work, and love for his family will live on in everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

Visitation will be held at the Carlson-Holmquist-Sayles Funeral Home & Crematory, 2320 Black Road, Thursday, July 16, 2026 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Following the visitation, family and friends are invited to continue celebrating Les's life by sharing stories and memories at Craft'd in Plainfield from 7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.