Lester "Les" Dagen

Lester “Les” Dagen, age 86, Quarryville, formerly of Willow Street, went to be with the Lord at Quarryville Presbyterian Retirement Community on, Tuesday, October 13, 2026.

Born March 18, 1940 in Lancaster, he was the son of the late Jacob L. Dagen and Florence Lefever Dagen. He is survived by his wife, Evelyn, with whom he celebrated 65 years of marriage.

Les attended Sandstone, a one-room school at Hessdale, which was the oldest one-room school in Pennsylvania, and Lancaster Mennonite High School. He worked in painting and cabinet finishing for over 52 years, retiring from H. W. Nauman Construction in 2015.

He was an active member of Byerland Mennonite Church, Willow Street, where he served as a Trustee, Usher, member of the Leadership Committee, and the Building Committee.

Les’s family includes his son Dennis, husband of Kathy Hess Dagen of Pequea, and a daughter Denise Bright of Mt. Joy; 4 grandchildren, Ashley Nolt, Jackie Wittaker, Michael Bright and Max Bright; 3 great granddaughters, Brooke and Madison Nolt, Abagail Whittaker; and 2 great-grandsons, Chase Nolt and Caleb Whittaker. In addition to his parents, Les was preceded in death by a brothers Paul Dagen, Jacob Dagen, Jr. and a sister Reba Martin.

We are grateful for the care Les received at QPRC and with Brandywine Hospice.

Les enjoyed hunting and fishing, especially with his son, Dennis. He was a member of the Red Shingle Cabin in Sullivan County for 60 years, where he had many good times hunting, fishing and vacationing with family and friends. A special memory for him was the many vacations with family in Lewes DE, and Canaan Valley, WV. He also enjoyed the vacations to Alaska, Switzerland, Holland, Austria, Germany and the Canadian Rockies.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, November 6, 2026 at 10:30AM at Byerland Mennonite Church, 931 Byerland Church Road, Willow Street, PA with Pastors Jay Hess and Matthew Bye officiating. A visitation will be held from 9:30AM until the time of service. Interment will be private in Byerland Mennonite Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Les’s memory to Mennonite Disaster Service, 583 Airport Road, Lititz, PA 17543. Arrangements entrusted to Murray A. Miller.