Obituary of Rhonda Lee Kester
Rhonda Lee Kester, 66, passed away peacefully at home and surrounded by her family on Wednesday, October 12, 2016, after living courageously with endometrial cancer since 2011.
Born April 23, 1950 in Wisconsin Rapids, she was the third of five children born to Joseph Jerome and Vivian Viola (Scholten) Just. She grew up in Nekoosa, WI, attended Nekoosa High School, and lived in Wisconsin Rapids her entire adult life. She married David Gary Kester in 1970; the marriage later ended in divorce.
She was the beloved mother of Allison Claire Rooney (Seann) of Wilsall, MT, Erin Lee Kester (Ryan Bowen) of Portland, OR, and Joseph Frank Kester (Annie) of Madison, WI. She leaves behind three adoring grandchildren: Wyatt Tiernan Rooney, and Olive Louise and Lee Arthur Kester. All are heartbroken and will miss her dearly.
Rhonda attended Mid-State Technical College and achieved an Associate's Degree in Accounting. She worked as an Accounting Clerk at Solarus in Wisconsin Rapids for nearly 17 years, retiring in 2014.
She was a self-described homebody who especially enjoyed being in the kitchen. She loved to cook, can, bake, and ferment, and family holidays won't be the same without her famous crescent rolls. Rhonda was also a very active member of the Evangelical Free Church, where she was a Sunday school teacher for many years and involved with Angel Tree, a program that benefits the families of incarcerated parents.
Rhonda will leave a legacy of caring endlessly for others, being a prayer warrior, and will always be remembered for her kind and gentle nature. She was a dear friend to many, always willing to lend an ear or hand, and never hesitated to share her love of Jesus Christ and the Word of God.
She loved her family dearly and will leave behind her father, Joseph; siblings Karen Jensen (Dale), Nancy Rogers (Glen), Gregory Just (Mary), Michael Just (Susan); and many nieces, nephews, and extended family. She was preceded in death by her mother, Vivian.
Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, October 15, 2016 at the Evangelical Free Church, 611 Cook Avenue, Wisconsin Rapids. Pastor David Kurek will officiate. Visitation will be held from 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. on Friday at Herman-Taylor Funeral Home in Wisconsin Rapids and from 10:00 A.M. until the time of services on Saturday at the church. The graveside service will be held at Forest Hill Cemetery, Wisconsin Rapids. Rhonda will be buried near her Grandpa William Scholten, whom she shared a special relationship with and loved very much.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be designated to Angel Tree (www.prisonfellowship.org/about/angel-tree).
The family would like to extend thanks and deepest appreciation to the hospice team at Ministry Home Care for providing Rhonda with compassionate, heart-felt, and dignified care. She benefited greatly from Sam and Stacie, her core care team.
