NESTER – John (Jack) Malcolm Nester
January 13, 1955 – August 4, 2022
John (Jack) Nester was born January 13, 1955 to Jack and Lillian Nester. He passed away on August 4, 2022 at the South Health Campus Hospital in Calgary after a brief battle with cancer.
He is survived by his loving wife Diana Nester; mother Lillian Nester; sister Marj (Murray McArthur) Veno; son Travis Nester; daughters Christy (Brad) Wemekamp, and Kelsey (Wes) Yule; step-daughter Deana (Steven) Schmuland; step-son Danny (Tracey) Culp; niece Janet (Steven) Yule; and his great-nephews Tate and Wyatt. He is also survived by his 13 grandchildren Colby, Hayden, William and Paul Nester, Tyler and Amber Helle & Cassie Wemekamp, Cash and Piper Yule, Jenna and Logan Schmuland, Prestlie and Carson Culp; and his great-granddaughter Hunter and mother-in-law Donna Lindquist; as well as his brother-in-law Dale (Debbie) Lindquist; his nephew Justin (Sasha) Lindquist; and his great-niece Penelope.
He was predeceased by his father John (Jack) Nester in 2010; and brother-in-law Greg Veno in 1991.
Jack grew up on the family ranch near Cessford. He started school at the age of 5 and went to Pandora School which was a one room schoolhouse and then moved on to Cessford to finish his schooling. He worked for a time for Bill Rooke, driving cattle liners and then in 1975 started working for Co-Enerco where he began working his way up to being in charge of several oil plants in Alberta.
In 1978, he purchased the Frank Thurber farm near Blackie and moved his family there. He quit Co-Enerco in 1988 to pursue his love of ranching. Jack started selling cattle handling equipment in 1995 until his passing.
He married his best friend and love of his life, Diana, on August 21, 2005. He recently shared that it has been the happiest 20+ years of both of their lives. They continued ranching and selling cattle handling equipment until January 2012, when they sold the home place and moved to Vulcan to continue selling cattle handling equipment under Nester Livestock Equipment. Jack has sold equipment across Canada. Jack was a hard worker. He spent many hours at the yard and would drop everything if he had a customer or friend in need. He was finally thinking of slowing down a bit and decided to take “Mama to Mesa” last winter to see if he would like to start taking the motorhome down like a snowbird. It didn’t take long for him to meet new friends and he and Diana decided to purchase a park model in the park they were staying in. Jack was elated and looked forward to heading back down to begin their next chapter this October. He loved the sense of community in their park.
Meeting people was his passion, through trade shows & equipment deliveries. Jack was full of life. His smile could light up a room. His quick wit and laughter will be missed more than we could ever say. He loved his family and many friends and would do anything for the people he loved. He had a special place in his heart for his grandchildren and they will miss “Papa” dearly.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to STARS Air Ambulance (STARS Donations
1441 Aviation Park NE, Box 570 Calgary, Alberta T2E 8M7) stars.ca.
A Celebration of Jack’s Life was held at the Vulcan Curling Rink on Thursday, August 18, 2022.
To send condolences, please visit www.lylereeves.com. Caring for the family is Lyle Reeves Funerals of High River (Craig Snodgrass) 403.652.4242.
