Raymond Lawrence Kesterson

Funeral Mass is 11:00 a.m., Thursday, May 23rd at Holy Family Catholic Church in Emmetsburg. Burial is in Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Cemetery in Mooreland, Iowa. The family will greet friends from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday at the Joyce Funeral Home where there will be a vigil service at 7:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in Raymond's name. Raymond Lawrence Kesterson was born February 9, 1941, in Dedhem, IA, the son of Niles and Anna (Thielan) Kesterson. He was raised near Fort Dodge, Iowa. On March 1, 1960, Raymond was united in marriage to Shirley Sullivan at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Moorland. The couple lived in Fort Dodge, Algona, Emmetsburg and Spencer. Ray worked in shoe sales and repair most of his life. He owned and operated Ray's Family Shoe Store and Repair in Algona, Iowa. He was also an instructor at Iowa Lakes Community College where he taught shoe repair. Later in life, Ray worked as a general contractor with his sons and had a painting business. Ray was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Spencer and a former member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Emmetsburg. He enjoyed fishing a...[more]

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spending time with his family. On Saturday, Ray passed away at Spencer Hospital. He was 72. Left to cherish his memory is his wife, Shirley of Spencer; four sons: Michael of Ohio, Daniel of Emmetsburg, Matthew of Fostoria and Don & fiancé, Bonnie of Emmetsburg; two daughters: Susan Blair of Spencer and Christine Kesterson of Fort Dodge, 14 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; and two sisters-in-law: Connie Kesterson of Charter Oak and Agnes Kesterson of Fort Dodge. He was preceded in death by his parents; and three brothers: Niles, Floyd and Jack Kesterson.