Eugene Nester

Rock Rapids, IA Eugene Nester, age 81 of Rock Rapids, IA died Wednesday, July 6, 2011 at his home in Rock Rapids. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, July 9th at the Apostolic Christian Church in Lester. Burial will follow in the Apostolic Christian Cemetery at Lester. Visitation will be Friday, July 8th from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. and from 6:00 " 8:00 p.m. with the family present at the Apostolic Christian Church Fellowship Hall. Eugene William Nester was born April 10, 1930 at the Knobloch family farm near Alvord, Iowa, the son of Wilhelm and Lydia (Knobloch) Nester. He was raised on a farm southwest of Rock Rapids, IA and attended Cleveland Township #1 School. Eugene farmed with his parents until he entered the United States Army in 1954, serving in France. He received his honorable discharge in 1956 and returned to his family where he continued to farm. He was baptized on April 10, 1960 and became a member of the Apostolic Christian Church in Lester, Iowa. On January 16, 1966 Eugene was united in marriage to Shirley Butikofer at the Apostolic Christian Church in Elgin, Iowa. They made their home on his family farm near Rock Rapids, and Eugene farmed for the rest of his working life. He had a calm and content nature and loved the everyday life of a farmer. He enjoyed traveling with his wife and family, especially to Germany and Oregon. Most of all he loved his family. In January of 2009 Eugene and Shirley moved to a home in Rock Rapids. In August of 2010 he was diagnosed with cancer. He remained home with the care of his wife, Shirley until this past Wednesday, July 6, 2011, when he died at the age of 81. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Shirley Nester; five children, Marie (Paul) Sauder of Morris, MN, Anita (Byron) Fehr of Whittemore, IA, Charlotte (Phil) Waldbeser of Elgin, IA, Lori (Seth) Miller of Lester, IA and Willis (JoAnn) Nester of Rock Rapids, IA; twenty-three grandchildren; a sister, Ruth Nester of Rock Rapids, IA; and many other extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Wilhelm and Lydia Nester; step-mother, Elizabeth (Metzger) Nester; and two infant sisters.