Byron James Pester born August 25, 1924, passed away on October 8, 2022. The son of Walter and Emily (Clemons) Pester. Byron graduated from Whitewater City High School in May of 1942. After high school he played semi-pro football for the Delevan Red Devils from 1943-1946 and farmed on the family farm. He was united in marriage to Doris Schlitz on July 24, 1953 at the First United Methodist Church, Whitewater, WI. They operated a dairy farm in Cold Spring until 1960 when they moved their dairy operation to Houston, Texas.
While living in Houston Byron and his wife Doris were active participants and supporters of the Houston Livestock Show and its youth programs for the dairy industry. Byron was a lifetime member of the Dairy Shrine and served on the Dairy Shrine board. In retirement Byron and Doris enjoyed camping at a variety of national parks, traveling to Alaska, visiting family and friends in Wisconsin and lending a helping hand to their Texas family/friends.
Byron returned to Whitewater, Wisconsin in 2013 to be closer to his Wisconsin family and friends. In April of 2021 he moved to the Waupun Christian Home to be closer to his niece Linda and her husband Tom.
Byron easily made friends wherever he went. While living in Texas, traveling in retirement, living at Fairhaven in Whitewater and at the Waupun Christian Home. He touched many lives and will be fondly remembered. A special thank you to SSM Health Agnesian Hospice, especially Emily and to the staff at the Waupun Christian Home.
Byron is survived by a special niece Linda (Tom) Dykstra of Fox Lake; grandnieces Leslie (Wesley) DeYoung of Oregon and Emily Dykstra of Milwaukee. Schlitz nieces and nephews Kerri (Gregg) Knapp; Tim (Renee) Schlitz of Cedarburg; Dan (Lei) Schlitz of Northbrook, IL; Julie (Rob) Stelter of Cedarburg; and seven grand nieces and nephews. Special friends Frank and Carla Seber and many other friends of Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents Walter and Emily Pester, his wife Doris, brothers Lauren Pester, Lyle and Mildred Pester, brothers-in-law Harold and Diane Schlitz, and Keith and Ethel Schlitz.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, October 13, at 12 p.m. at the Nitardy Funeral Home in Whitewater. A funeral service will follow the visitation at 1:30 p.m. and interment will be at the Hillside Cemetery after the service.
Memorials can be made to the Dairy Shrine or Waupun Christian Home.
Nitardy Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences can be made at www.nitardyfuneralhome.com
