White Funeral Home
1315 Main Street
Jesup, Iowa 50648

JESUP – Janette Marie Kester, 92 of Jesup, IA, died Wednesday, February 21, 2024, at Buchanan County Health Center - Lexington Estates, Independence, IA.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. – Monday, February 26, 2024, at St. Athanasius Catholic Church, Jesup, IA with burial at St. Athanasius Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., Sunday, February 25, 2024, at White Funeral Home, Jesup, where there will be a parish rosary at 3:00 p.m. and vigil service at 6:00 p.m. Visitation will continue for an hour before services at the church on Monday.

Memorials will be directed to St. Joseph’s Indian School, 1301 North Main Street, Chamberlain, SD, 57325, and other charities. Online condolences may be posted at www.White-MtHope.com

Janette was born April 29, 1931, in Jesup, IA, the daughter of Paul Kerkove and Irene (Ehr) Kerkove. She graduated from Jesup High School with the class of 1948. On September 9, 1953, she, was united in marriage to Gene Maurice Kester at St. Athanasius Catholic Church in Jesup, where she was a lifelong member. Janette worked as a secretary for her brother, Jack Kerkove, at Catholic Family Benefit Society in Waterloo, IA.

Janette is survived by two daughters, Debra Andrews and Barbara (Michael) Farrell; three sons, Ronald (Debora) Kester, Richard “Dick” (Jeanette) Kester, all of Jesup, and Robert (Theresa) Kester of Albuquerque, NM; 10 grandchildren, Dana (Clay) Harrold, Jenica (Eddie) Arias, Shana (Nick) Bangs, Kristin (Ryan) Hutchins, Garrett (Lauren) Kester, Kaitlyn Gabaldon, Ian Farrell, A.J. Farrell, Mariah Farrell and Meghan Farrell; 7 great grandchildren, Kyla, Kensley, and Emery Arias, Braylee, Coleton and Alayna Harrold, and Lauren Hutchins; also 3 sisters, Margaret Dilts of Independence, Mary (Frank) Teel of Evansdale and Barb Fernald of Jesup.

In addition to her husband Gene (January 6, 2008), she was preceded in death by her parents; 3 sisters, Shirley Bagby, Madonna Coulter, Alice Fernau; and one brother, Jack Kerkove.

White Funeral Home, Jesup, IA, is in charge of the arrangements.