Kester, Henry E. (Hank) 1932-2010

KESTER, HEATH, HAUBRICH, MILLIGAN, JAEGER, CHLADEK, LANTZ, KETTLER, BAUM

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 7/7/2014 at 06:39:30

Henry Kester 1932 - 2010

Henry E. (Hank) Kester, 78, entered into eternal rest on December 23, 2010, at Mercy Hospice in Johnston, Iowa. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, December 31 at the Redfield Christian Church with burial at Morrisburg Cemetery at a later date. McCalley Funeral Home in Adel is handling the arrangements.

Henry was born on May 25, 1932, to Everett and Florence (Heath) Kester in Waukegan, Ill. Henry graduated from Redfield High School in 1949. He joined the US Navy in 1951 and worked as plane handler and rescue man on the flight deck of the USS Phillippine Sea during the Korean War. Henry married Donna Rae Haubrich on September 12, 1953, at the Redfield Christian Church, and together they had four children. Henry received both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Drake University and worked as an art teacher, art consultant, and as Art Supervisor for Des Moines Public Schools. Henry was very talented, and had a prolific career as an artist. He produced oil paintings, sculptures, pottery, sketches, watercolors, and photography. Following retirement, Henry and Donna moved to Rockport, Texas, where they enjoyed their next years together traveling, fishing and sailing. Henry taught advanced navigation courses for the coast guard auxiliary. Henry's passion was sailing, but after an accident resulted in a severe foot and ankle injury, he sold his sailboat and got a fishing boat. He and Donna became avid fishermen. Henry developed COPD and his health issues prompted their move back to Redfield in 2008 to be near family. He will be remembered for his many talents, wisdom, integrity, calmness, patience, and sense of humor.

Henry will be lovingly remembered and missed by his wife, four children; Randy (Mary and her son Shawn), Dennis (Barb), Deb (Stu) Milligan, and Mike (Lisa); grandchildren, Stacy (Rob) Jaeger, Amber (Jonas) Chladek, Zebin Kester, Curt (Tara) Lantz Jr., Nicole (Nick) Kettler, Micah Milligan, and Emily Baum; and nine great-grandchildren. Henry was preceded in death by his parents, sister and brother.

Memorial contributions will be donated to the Mercy Hospice in Johnston.

Published in Des Moines Register on Dec. 29, 2010
- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/desmoinesregister/obituary.aspx?n=henry-kester&pid=147463885#sthash.oaIgsm9f.dpuf ~ The Des Moines Register Legacy, Des Moines, Iowa Wed 29 Dec 2010.