How To Pronounce “Lesmeister”

I could be cute and say the way to pronounce Lesmeister is “a really nice place to stay”. But this subject must be taken seriously since I’m asked at least once a week how to pronounce this old family name that died out in our county over a hundred years ago.

Heinrich “Henry” Lesmeister built the building that now houses Lesmeister Guesthouse, and he’d appreciate knowing his name is being pronounced properly to this day, so it’s:

LESS as in less, rather than more, and with emphasis on this syllable.

my  as in mine rather than yours.

stir  as in the process James Bond prefers that you not use to agitate his martini.

LESS-my-stir