Robert Edwin Jester, “Bob,” was born on May 4, 1940, to Edwin and Frances Jester and was the oldest of three brothers. Bob passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on Tuesday, July 19, 2016, due to Acute Myeloid Leukemia. He is now with our Lord in Heaven.

At a young age his family moved to Southern California. He became involved in the Boy Scouts and the lessons he learned here impacted the rest of his life: self-sufficiency, leading a moral life and hard work. He got his first job delivering newspapers at the age of 8, and continued to do various jobs throughout his life including being a milkman, and setting pins at a bowling alley. He learned at a young age that hard work pays off.

He attended Torrance High School in Southern California where he was involved in track and could run a mile in 4:24. It was here, in biology class, that he met the love of his life and his best friend, Linda Ambrose. He is quoted as saying, “Out of all the girls in class, she was the one I wanted to meet.” Three years later, on March 5, 1960, they were married. Older daughter, Cindy, was born in July 1962 and younger daughter Connie was born in May 1964. He also attended Cerritos Junior College for several years, studying finance. Bob dabbled in entrepreneurship establishing Jester’s Truck and Trailer Wash in Long Beach, Calif.

Living in California, Bob and Lin continuously thought that there had to have been something better than the life of a big city. Discovering the beauty of North Idaho, they moved from the big city to the small town of Spirit Lake, Idaho, in 1972. Bob worked as a credit manager in Coeur d’Alene and Spokane. In 1976, Bob found a need and decided to fill it. Bob and Lin purchased a 1952 Dodge van with cleaning equipment included, and started their own business entitled Jester’s Personalized Cleaning Service. The business flourished and they still to this day maintain their first account. Bob thoroughly enjoyed and cherished the relationships and friendships that he and Lin developed through their business of 40 years. Bob semi-retired in 2014, participating in it as he wanted to, when his daughter Connie took the helm as general manager. His fondest dream was to have Jester’s Cleaning continue as the family run business it has always been.

Being grateful for all of his blessings, he wanted to contribute to his community. He joined the fire department in Rathdrum as a volunteer and later became a temporary chief of that department. In addition, Bob and Lin became EMTs and volunteered in the Twin Lakes First Responders for 12 years. Bob was also very active in his church, Shepherd of the Hills in Rathdrum as an elder, and Sunday School Teacher, volunteering in any capacity needed.

Bob was lovingly called “Baba” by his grandkids. He spent many years taking them on adventures to meet such characters as the Wizard of Oz down the street, the Loch Ness Monster in Twin Lakes, the pirates who would leave them pennies on the beach, Two-toed Joe and Monahan the Leprechaun. Baba taught his grandkids how to fly fish, drive, plow snow and ultimately how to have an imagination.

Bob met every difficulty he faced with remarkable strength, wisdom and wit. He had a truly unique way of viewing life. He would say, “have a goal or a dream, find a way to fulfill it and complete it in the simplest way.” He loved meeting and talking to people. His true gift was to make people feel like they had known him all of their lives. According to his impact on people, Bob left living legacies testifying to his faith in God, character and work-ethic.

This is but a brief look into the life of a truly remarkable man. A man of great Faith in God, loving, strong and devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He touched so many lives, those that just lasted a few minutes to those he had his entire life. He will be so greatly missed.

Bob is survived by his wife of 56 years, Lin Jester; his oldest daughter, Cindy Smith and her husband, Gary; his daughter, Connie Decker; granddaughter Nara Spade and her husband, Cody Spade and great-grandson Jonah Robert; granddaughter Sarah Decker; grandson Robert Smith and his wife, Hannah; grandson Garrett Smith; and brother-in-law Gene Ambrose and his wife, Darlene, their children, Charlena and Bruce; and numerous nephews and nieces. His brothers, David and Keith Jester; and numerous family members in Colorado and California.

We would like to give our deepest gratitude and appreciation to the staff and doctors at Kootenai Cancer Clinic in Post Falls, at Kootenai Health oncology ward and Hospice House of North Idaho for their exceptional care they took of our Dad. We ask any memorials be sent to Cancer Research, especially for AML, The Hospice of North Idaho or Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Rathdrum.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 30, 2016, at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, 13541 West Highway 53, Rathdrum, ID 83858.