Joseph “Gene” Sestak
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Joseph “Gene” E Sestak, age 74, of Columbia, Mo, passed away February 4th after a battle with Pancreatic cancer.
Joe was born to Robert and Lillian (Petrik) Sestak on November 28, 1934 in Tabor, SD. He attended St. Wenceslaus Catholic grade school and graduated from Tabor High School. Joe joined U.S. Army’s 10th division on January 4, 1955 and was assigned to the 41st Combat Engineers. Joe proudly served most of his time in Germany, and was honorably discharged December 20, 1957. He received his Bachelor of Science degree and attended graduate studies at South Dakota State University, Brookings SD.
October 1962 he began his career in Seattle WA as an Agricultural Statistician with the National Agricultural Statistical Service, USDA, later transferring to Washington DC. June 1969, attended North Carolina State where he continued his education in statistics. After two years in R&D he transferred to Portland OR, before settling in Columbia MO. While in Oregon he was active in Scouts as Cub Master and Scout Master and was a charter member of the Tualatin Lions Club. In Missouri he continued with Scouts, Downtown Optimist, and investment clubs. Joe earned the Silver Beaver award in 1994 for his nearly 35 years of service with the Boy Scouts. He was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes church.
Joe is survived by his wife Marilyn (Wagner) of Columbia MO, their son Dean of Plano TX, daughter Lynn of Columbia MO, brothers Robert (Lou Anne) in Renton WA, Ronald (Joyce) of Tabor SD and many nieces and nephews.
Per Joe’s wishes cremation has taken place and a Christian burial will be in Tabor South Dakota at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joe’s memory to the Downtown Optimist Club attn Treasurer Steve Klein PO Box 1959, Columbia MO 65205 or Boy Scouts of America Administrative Office 1203 Fay St, Columbia MO 65201.
Our prayers and thoughts go out to all of you. Just as God has granted Gene his loving peace, God also will also grant to you.
Uncle Gene you will be missed by all – you kind and gentle man. Our thoughts and prayers are with you Marilyn, Dean & Lynn. We love you!
We are so sorry for your loss
I’m sorry for your loss. Keep your happy memories. They will help the most in the future.
We are very sorry for your loss. We will keep you in our prayers
We’re very sorry to hear of your loss. Our thoughts are with you.
A great Scouter and great Optimist! He will be missed.
May you find comfort and peace during this time of sorrow. Our thoughts are with you.
May you find peace and comfort during this time of sorrow. Our thoughts are with you.
Lynn, we are so sorry for your loss. You are in our prayers and thoughts. Anything that we can do, please let us know.
Lu and Dave
We are so sorry to hear of Joe’s passing. We knew him as a generous and caring Optimist. He will be remembered with great respect by all of us.
We, at the Downtown Optimist Club will sure miss Joe’s smiling face and helpfulness. Your family is in our thoughts and prayers.
For you and your family, we pray for that your dad’s and your angels bring you comfort and love as you go through this difficult time. God’s richest blessings to your dad, and you.
Joe and I worked side by side on the tree lot. He was one of the best men I have ever met. He will be greatly missed.
Marilyn and Lynn, we share your loss. We rejoice in the great memories as neighbors and Optimists. Joe is loved and missed.
Marilyn and Lynn, we share your loss. We rejoice in the great memories as neighbors and Optimists. Joe is loved and missed.
Lynn, I am thinking of you and your family during this difficult time.
Lynn,
I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your father. Know that he is at peace now with God. I am thinking of you.
Revelation 21:4
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
We have fond memories of Joe as a neighbor and friend. We remember those cold days when Joe would be outside working in one of his miriad “Show Me State Games” T-shirts. Joe was always the guy you could depend on and always volunteered to lend a helping hand. We will miss his easy laugh and friendly and helpful advice.
Lynn-You are in my thoughts. All of your wonderful memories will be with you always.
Our death is our wedding with eternity.
What is the secret? “God is One.”
The sunlight splits when entering the windows of the house.
This multiplicity exists in the cluster of grapes;
It is not in the juice made from the grapes.
For he who is living in the Light of God,
The death of the carnal soul is a blessing.
Regarding him, say neither bad nor good,
For he is gone beyond the good and the bad.
Fix your eyes on God and do not talk about what is invisible,
So that he may place another look in your eyes.
It is in the vision of the physical eyes
That no invisible or secret thing exists.
But when the eye is turned toward the Light of God
What thing could remain hidden under such a Light?
Although all lights emanate from the Divine Light
Don’t call all these lights “the Light of God”;
It is the eternal light which is the Light of God,
The ephemeral light is an attribute of the body and the flesh.
…Oh God who gives the grace of vision!
The bird of vision is flying towards You with the wings of desire.
-Rumi
My heart is heavy with the news of our shared loss. Joe was a great teacher, Optimist and friend.
I am honored to have known Joe. He touched many lives and will be long remembered for his contributions. You, his family, will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Joe has been an inspiration in my life. He always had a positive outlook and always was ready to help others. He may no longer be with us but his memory will always be with me. Good-bye Joe.
Marilyn, Dean, Lynn It is surreal, yourour beloved Gene is gone. We know he is at peace after passing in your loving care, my dear sister. We pray you find the strength to endure your profound loss. We will always remember Gene’s positive attitude.
Our deepest heartfelt sympathy to Marilyn, Dean, and Lynn. He will be missed by all. Remember the good times.
Our deepest sympathy to you Marilyn and your children. Our thoughts and prayers
are with you.Our deepest sympathy to Bob and Ron and their families. Bob is a classmate of Kenneth. May God Bless you all
Our deepest sympathy to you Marilyn and your children. Our thoughts and prayers
are with you.Our deepest sympathy to Bob and Ron and their families. Bob is a classmate of Kenneth. May God Bless you all
We were deeply saddened to hear about Gene’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. May warm memories of him comfort you today and always. Love, Troy & Jane
Lynn, Sorry for your loss, you are in my prayers.
Marilyn, Dave and I were sorry to hear of your loss. Joe was always so friendly to us and our boys. He will be missed.
Uncle Gene was a good man to talk to and to know. I already miss him.
Our thoughts are with you and our prayers with Gene.
With love and sympathy,
Mark, Jeanne and Ashley Herman
I enjoyed working with Joe and knowing him. He was easy to be with and discuss things. He was a good listener and respectful. Scouting and the Optimists have lost a good one.
Marilyn & Family
I’m so sorry for your loss, and things will be tough for awhile, but we must remember he is in a better place. I was so happy to see him at the office Christmas party. He was a real joy to work with all those years. Thanks for the memories. Edyth
Your family is in our prayers.
We are thinking of your family during this time.
My thoughts and prayers are with the Sestak family.
We are very saddened at Joe’s passin away. There are alot of fond memories with Joe. Hardly ever missed a optimist lunch until recently. Worked the tree lot with the strenght of a 20 year old. He was a true inspiration of how life should be lived.
May God comfort you and your family as you greive the lost of a husband, father, brother and friend.
Lynn,
Thoughts and prayers be with you and your family. I hope the loving memories of your Dad will be a great comfort in the future. God Bless.
Your family will be in my prayers The Pauley’s
I am so sorry to hear the sad news and know how much Gene loved and cared for his family.
Thoughts and prayers are with you in this time of loss.
Mimi, Dean,& Lynn, Uncle Gene touched many lives and is now at peace. I hope you feel everyone’s love and support wrapped around you. Scott, Nicky, Maddie,& Claire
Lynn, I am thinking of you and your family as you grieve the loss of your father. John Grey said “Love, like the ocean is vast and forever, And sorrow, but a shadow that moves over the sea.”.
It is my hope that the love you and your family have for each other brings you some comfort and in time the beauty of your memories softens the pain.
Marilyn
I am sorry to hear about Joe’s passing. I rented from you guys in the 80s (Quail Dr), & you always treated me right.
God Bless.
Dear Marilyn, Lynn and family,
We were greatly saddened by Joe’s passing. Joe was a kind and generous friend and neighbor and served this small community well, especially during his long tenure as Secretary-Treasurer. Please accept our prayers and condolences.
Mimi, Dean, and Lynn — We are so sorry for your loss — you are in our thoughts and prayers. Uncle Gene is in a wonderful place and cherish all of your wonderful memories with him – old and new. Love, Melanie, Spencer, MacKenzie, & Hunter
Mimi,Dean,and Lynn….We are so sorry for your loss..Uncle Gene was a very special man and the thing that I remember the most is how quiet he was but when he spoke to you it was like you were the only one in the room.. I will also remember his big hugs…our loss is definately God’s gain. Stephanie, Tj, Ryan and Tori
Joe was my mentor at work and a great friend. Rest in Peace Big Joe.