Lester Lynn Harlan

Lester Lynn Harlan, 76 of Madison, passed away, Thursday, April 9, 2026, at the Life Care Center in Burlington, Kansas.

He was born April 5, 1950, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Emporia, Kansas the son of Ernest and Marjorie Hess Harlan. Les attended Marion High School and graduated with the Class of 1968.

Les began a career in the United States Army on July 28, 1969. He trained to become a helicopter pilot, becoming proficient piloting the UH-1 Iroquois or “Huey” and the CH-47 “Chinook”. Les served three tours of duty in Vietnam.

He married the love of his life, Debra S. Denney, on June 5, 1971, in Marion, Kansas just following his first tour of duty. They began their lives together living in Manhattan, Kansas while Les was stationed at Ft. Riley. They later moved to Augsburg Germany while he served at Clay Kaserne Air Base. In 1975 he returned to Ft. Riley, living in Herrington. During that time, he was deployed to Korea for one year. In 1980 Les and Deb moved to Alaska while he served at Ft. Wainwright. He would later spend time at Ft. Rucker, Alabama and Ft. Campbell Kentucky before returning to Ft. Riley and retiring on July 31, 1989, with 20 years and three days of honorable service to his country. After moving to their current home just south of Madison in 1988, Les joined the Madison American Legion Post #124.

Les was not one to remain still for long. He took the position of plant manager at the Safeway Dog Food Plant in Emporia. He later joined A.M. Cohron & Son Inc. of Emporia as a Supervisor in bridge construction. Les officially retired in 2014 as the company’s safety officer.

Les and Deb remain faithful members of the Lamont Wesleyan Church family.

He will live on in the hearts and treasured memories of his wife, Deb of their home; a son BJ Harlan and his wife Melissa of Madison; a sister Glenda Webster and her husband Laurence of Wichita; grandchildren, MaeLee Esslinger and husband JJ of Madison, Kinsey Hobbs and husband Austin of Buffalo, Kansas and Marlea Harlan of Manhattan, Kansas; his great-grandchildren; Juliette Esslinger and Eden Hobbs; numerous nieces. nephews, extended family and a community of dear friends. Les was preceded in death by a son, Michael Lynn Harlan in 1991 and his parents Ernest and Marjorie.

The family invites you to join them in honoring and celebrating Les with memorial services at 4:00 P.M., Thursday, April 16, 2026, at the Lamont Wesleyan Church. They invite you to come visit and share memories beginning at 3:00 P.M. Military honors will be presented at the church by the Ft. Riley Honors Detail. Memorial contributions may be made to the Lamont Wesleyan Church and sent in care of the VanArsdale Funeral Home, Box #488, Madison, Kansas 66860. Condolences may be expressed at vanarsdalefs.com.