Richard "Collin" Lester

It is with great sorrow that we announce the sudden passing of Richard "Collin" Lester, 24, of Zion, Illinois, on Thursday, November 7, 2024.

Collin was born on December 18, 1999, in Lake Forest, IL, to Brezzy (Joe Pilman) Buchta and Steven (Heather) Lester. He was a graduate of Zion-Benton Township High School, and worked as a forklift driver for Medline. Collin’s life was marked by a deep love for family, friends, and all the things that brought him joy.

A passionate football player, Collin started playing the sport in junior high and continued through high school, where he made lasting friendships and memories on the field. 

His love for the game never wavered, and one of the only things he loved as much as playing football, was watching his favorite college football team: The Georgia Bulldogs. Collin’s home was filled with jerseys, collectibles, banners, and so much more that emphasized his fandom. 

Collin loved pet bulldogs as well, a true reflection of his kind and pure heart, which he showed through endless love and care for his English Bulldog Luna, and his French Bulldog Freya. His kindness and care for his beloved pets was infinite. 

If Collin wasn’t watching the Georgia game on Saturday, he was likely expressing his profound love for music. He had attended many concerts across a wide sea of genres, always eager to experience the energy and connection that live performances brought. He would also frequently be on a quest for emotionally provoking media.

Through his search, he found reading comics and watching anime especially comforting. Most notably, he felt immense admiration for Monkey D. Luffy from One Piece, a character that symbolized joy and freedom for Collin. 

Collin also felt a sense freedom and happiness through writing and video games. He liked to organize his thoughts through creative writing and poetry. He was a truly talented writer whose imagination knew no bounds. He would then turn on the PlayStation to destress by playing anything from retro single player games to games he found visually stunning. 

Most of all, Collin spent a great deal of his timechecking up on friends and family, sending them songs he thought they might like, a post they’d find funny, sharing a memory, or simply wishing that their day was great. 

Collin is survived by his mother, Brezzy (Joe Pilman) Buchta; father, Steven (Heather) Lester; brothers; Joseph Thomas Pilman, and Cason Douglas Pilman; grandfathers, Thomas E. (Judy) Buchta, Richard N. Lester, and Joseph “Joey” Pilman; aunts, Serene Pilman, Chelsey Pilman, Jolena (Chad) Nelson, Jayme Crooks; and many cousins, and friends. 

He is preceded in death by his grandfather; William “Pa” Grogan; grandmothers Pauline Grogan, Carolee Lester, and Paulette Pilman; aunt Lisa Buchta; and brother Jackson Lester.

 A visitation will be held on Friday, November 15, 2024 from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. at the Point Church, 900 Lewis Ave, Winthrop Harbor, IL. A funeral service will follow at 7:00pm at the church. 

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to the American Diabetes Association.