William R. 'Bill' Jester

William R. Jester of Springfield, passed away Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010. He was born October 18th, 1948, in Bolivar to Oby and Nina Jester and quickly began weaving the fabric of his colorful life. Bills childhood experiences managing a paper route, painting houses, and helping at the family store, Jesters Gifts, shaped him early in life. After graduating from Bolivar High School in 1966, he attended Southwest Baptist University, earning a Bachelors Degree in Speech and Debate. He also completed graduate hours from Central Missouri State University and the University of Oklahoma. A natural for writing, speech, and performance, he won many awards for debate, oral interpretation, and humor. Bill was known to spontaneously recite his favorite works from Shakespeare, Frost, and Twain. Though he earned his degree from SBU, Bill always felt his best education came from working for the Roberts Family of Bill Roberts Chevrolet, particularly Agnes Roberts. Bill was a volunteer firefighter for 10 years with the Bolivar Fire Department. He served in the Missouri Army National Guard and combined this position with his firefighting experience during the 1975 Kansas City Firefighters Union strike. This was an exciting time in Bills life from which he gained many skills he would use far into the future. Making no little plans, he was the Vice President for Admissions and Financial Assistance of SBU from 1971 to 1979, which began his interest in fundraising. In 1979, Bill founded Resource Development, Inc., a financial consulting firm, that raised and developed more than $1.5 billion in capital and endowment projects for non-profit organizations, both nationally and internationally. Some of his clients included Drury University, Baptist Bible College, The Moody Bible Institute, Star of Hope, College of St. Mary, David Rockefeller organizations, Norman Vincent Peales Center for Christian Living, American Bible Society, Prison Fellowship Ministries, Missouri Baptist Childrens Home, The Gospel Union Rescue Mission in Los Angeles, Florida Orchestra, and the St. Louis Symphony, among many others. In 1989, Bill expanded RDI into the real estate market, changing the face of Springfield. His vision became a reality and the goal of constructing and renovating buildings that would stand long into the future was gratifyingly successful. These buildings and subdivisions included The Edgewood, Georgetown Square I & II, Governors Row, Richmond on Primrose, Eagles Gate, Town Center Plaza, Town and Country, Tuscany Court, The Secret Garden and Key Largo, French Quarter Plaza, Battlefield Towers, Charleston Crescent, Savannah Square, and more. Additionally, he opened Chardonnay restaurant in 2001, which earned awards for outdoor dining and ambiance. By taking the road less traveled, Bill was honored with many awards throughout his life. SBU honored him with a Life Service Award in 1990 and Bolivar High School honored Bill with the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1998. He was responsible for the completion of the Jester Learning and Performance Center at SBU in 2002. Most recently, he was nominated for the Innovator of the Year award in 2008 by the Springfield Business Journal. Above all, Bill loved his family and friends. He had a unique knack for sharing stories and jokes, which were always humorous, exciting, or moving. His diversity was reflected in his hobbies: cooking and barbeque, motorcycles and boats, bulldozers and tractors, reading and art, music and travel, time in nature, planting trees, building rock walls, travel around the world, and kites. Bills huge heart, positive thinking, and love of people made him a mentor and inspiration to many. He married Nancy (Hebbert) Jester in 1975, with whom he shared 29 years of partnership both personally and professionally. They brought two daughters, Jennifer and Cristen, into the world and he continually encouraged his girls to follow their hearts and be true to themselves. Bill always did his best to gift his daughters with opportunities and experiences that continue to touch their lives. He was later united in marriage with Brooke (Bennett) Jester in 2008 and enjoyed celebrating holidays and events with her family. Bill was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Brooke; children Jennifer Jester of Baltimore, MD, and Cristen Jester of Asheville, NC; brother Robert Jester and wife, Emilie, of Kansas City, and AFS Exchange brother Neville Muir and wife, Lill, of Melbourne, Australia. He will be greatly missed by his many friends and family, who savored his laughter, compassion, and cooking. They will continue telling his jokes and stories with fervor and passion. Visitation is Friday, June 4th, 2010 from 5 pm to 7 pm, in Butler Funeral Home Chapel, 407 E. Broadway, Bolivar, Mo 65613. Services are at 10 am on Saturday, June 5th, 2010 in Butler Funeral Home Chapel in Bolivar. Burial is at Greenwood Cemetery in Bolivar with full military honors conducted by the V.F.W. Post #5525 Honor Guard at Stockton, MO. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Neville Muirs organization, Deaf Ministries International, (www.deafmin.org) which serves the deaf community in Asia, Africa, and South America in care of Butler Funeral Home 407 E. Broadway, Bolivar, Mo. 65613. Friends may sign the guest book or send private condolences at www.butlerfuneralhome.com One Man In His Time Plays Many Parts - Shakespeare PDF Printable Version

William R. 'Bill' Jester

October 18, 1948 - June 2, 2010