John Edward Hester

John Edward Hester was born in Topeka, Kansas on June 2, 1950. He was one of two children of John Edward "Jack" and Lula Christine (Crouch) Hester.

John was united in marriage to Christi Lane Anderson on July 29, 1972 in Manhattan, Kansas. They became parents of three children.

John graduated from Kansas State University, and later earned a Master's degree in Divinity from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His ministry called him to serve the Chikaskia Baptist Church in Harper, Kansas (1977-1985), Herington First Baptist Church, Herington, Kansas (1985 - 1996), Harlan First Baptist Church, Harlan, Iowa (1996 - 1999), Larned First Baptist Church, Larned, Kansas and the Rozel First Baptist Church, Rozel, Kansas (2001- 2010).

John's first calling was preaching, and his hobbies and interests included family activities, especially those that involved grandchildren, trains, traveling, and fishing. John enjoyed music, played drums, and was a member of the K-State Singers and K-State Marching Band. He was also an avid fan of Drum and Bugle Corp. He enjoyed watching sports, particularly K-State football.

John passed away on May 20, 2023 at his Liberty, Missouri home at the age of 72. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Chris Hester.

John is survived by his wife of 50 years, Christi, of their home; their children, Sharla (Dave) Testorff, Ottawa, Kansas; Heidi (Daniel) Mull, Liberty, Missouri, and Jeffrey (Heather) Hester, Loveland, Colorado; seven grandchildren, Makayla, Julianne, Landon, and Spencer Testorff, and Delaney, Jocelyn and Grayson Boatwright; sister and brother-in-law, Judy and Jon Eshelman, Tulsa, Oklahoma; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Scott and Deirdre Anderson, Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life service will be held at 11:00 am on June 10, 2023 at the Liberty Christian Fellowship Church, 1815 W. Liberty Drive, Liberty, Missouri.  Private family inurnment will be at Maple Grove Cemetery, Oregon, Missouri. Care entrusted to Chamberlain Funeral Home, Oregon, Missouri.

Memorials may be directed to the John Hester family for area church camps. Venmo, @Jeff-Hester-4