[James “Jim” Dester], 89, of North Newton, Kansas, passed away on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.

Jim was born March 10, 1937, in Deer Creek, Oklahoma, to Emil and Edna (Wicke) Dester. The youngest of five brothers and one sister, he grew up working on the family farm. When he wasn’t working, he was getting into trouble with his brothers. Being the youngest, he was never the instigator, but he always willingly went along. He graduated from Deer Creek High School in 1955 and attended Bethel College in North Newton from 1956 to 1958, following most of his siblings and both of his parents. The Dester name was well known on campus, and a Dester-to-Dester touchdown pass was once recorded during a Bethel football game.

From 1958 to 1960, Jim worked as an orderly at a hospital in Evanston, Illinois. There he met Nancy Jehn, a nursing student at Northwestern University (Go Wildcats!). Nancy was engaged to a boy from her hometown of Nahma, Michigan. One weekend she went home to visit, and when she returned, the engagement ring was missing from her finger. She made sure Jim noticed. A first date followed quickly, and the two were inseparable for nearly six decades.

Jim moved to DeKalb, Illinois, in 1960 to study Industrial Technology at Northern Illinois University (Go Huskies!). Jim and Nancy married on September 9, 1961, in Evanston and settled in Sycamore, where Nancy worked as a nurse at the local hospital while Jim finished his degree.

After graduating in 1962, Jim joined Duplex Products, a manufacturer of business forms, information products, and printing materials. He climbed the ranks and was soon asked to help open a new plant in Emigsville, Pennsylvania. He and Nancy bought a home in York and started their family with the birth of their son, Patrick. In 1973, Duplex called Jim back to Sycamore to grow the business there, and the family returned. Sycamore remained home for most of his life.

An avid art lover, Jim devoted more time in retirement to photography and woodworking. He was especially known for his intricate duck call carvings, featuring patterns never seen before (including fish scale and basket weave), which earned him numerous first-place and best-in-show ribbons and trophies. His one-of-a-kind duck calls were treasured by collectors and fellow carvers, and examples of his work can be found online by searching ‘Jim Dester duck calls.’ He also has a few photos on his Facebook page, James Dester. He was a member of the Kishwaukee Valley Art League and served as its treasurer for five years.

After Nancy’s death in 2020, Jim sold the family home of 47 years and moved to Fort Collins, Colorado. Several years later, he returned to his roots, settling at Kidron Bethel Village, directly across from Bethel College, where he lived until his death.

Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy; his parents; four brothers; and one sister. He is survived by his son, Patrick.

Jim requested that no services be held.