James Sester

Mass of Christian Burial for Jim Sester will be held on Saturday, September 21, 2013 at St. John's Catholic Church at 10:30 a.m., followed by inurnment in Mound Cemetery in Ortonville. Visitation will be held Friday evening from 5 – 7 p.m. at Mundwiler and Larson Funeral Home with a prayer service at 7 p.m. Father Zachary Peterson will officiate. Honorary urn bearers will be Mike Shannon, Eric Lovgren, Slim Jurgens, Paul Strong, Jim Hipple, the Ortonville Fire Department, the Moose Lodge #407, and the Knights of Columbus.

Jim Sester, the son of Raphael and Frances (Pullen) Sester, was born February 6th, 1938, in Bird Island, MN, and was baptized at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Bird Island. When he was five years old, his family moved to Ortonville, MN, where he grew up and graduated from high school. He was confirmed at St. John's Catholic Church and was a lifetime member. In 1958, Jim married Patricia Wagner of Appleton, MN, and together they had four children -- Terry, Todd, Scott, and Julie.

Jim spent many years learning the farm implement business from his parents. Eventually he owned and operated Sester Equipment, a Massey Ferguson implement dealership of his own. Later in life he returned to school and became a real estate agent for Results Realty. He contributed to his community as a member of the Volunteer Fire Department, the Knights of Columbus, and the 407 Moose Lodge. He loved being outdoors, and from his years of being in the agriculture business, together with his hobbies of gardening, hunting, and fishing, he had an understanding of nature that he shared and passed on to many. Because he liked to be busy he never completely retired, but he still took time to sit by the lake with family and friends, bird watch, garden, and fish.

Jim died from cancer on September 15th, 2013 at the age of 75. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister JoAnn Kump, and his brother-in-law Joe Michels. He is survived by his wife Pat of Ortonville; his daughter Terry Hagen and husband Tom of Maple Grove, MN; his son Todd Sester and wife Karen of Rogers, MN; his son Scott Sester and wife Sandy of Minnetonka, MN; his daughter Julie Bennis and husband Craig of Deephaven, MN; his grandchildren Br. Michael, John, Anthony, Rachel, Riley, Claire, Sarah, and Caroline; his brother Dan and wife Tina of Mount Dora, FL; his sister Virginia Michels of Alexandria, MN; his sister Kathleen Morgan and husband George of Battle Lake, MN; his sister Marilyn Forbes and husband Dave of Marshall, MN; his sister Patricia Knudsen and husband Ken of Glenwood, MN; his brother-in-law Alan Kump of Clearwater, FL; his sister-in-law Anita Antrim of Wheaton, MN; and his many nieces and nephews. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.