James Martin Gest
James Martin Gest, 74, of Overland Park, Kansas, passed away suddenly Thursday evening, January 22, 2006 at Shawnee Mission Medical Center.
Jim was born April 16, 1934 in Hubbard, Ohio to the late Joseph and Elizabeth Gest. After he graduated from high school, Jim enlisted in the Army until his discharge in 1955. He married Essie Beckley on December 27, 1954 in Kansas City, Missouri. After serving in the Army he attended Finley College and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering. Jim went to work for Puritan and was with them for 43 years before retiring in May of 1999. He was called out of retirement and asked to go to Seattle, Washington to help with designing the Boeing 787 “Dreamliner”.
Jim was a loving husband, father and family man. He loved to bowl and golf and was on several bowling leagues with Puritan. He was an avid outdoors man, and spent many hours fishing and hunting. Jim was a member of B.A.S.S. Jim was also a master craftsman and enjoyed crafting gifts from wood. He was very proud member of Holy Cross Catholic Church where he served as an usher. He was active in his son’s Cub Scouts and Boy Scout Troops in Lenexa.
Jim is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Essie and son, Steven Gest, both of the home, and one brother, Joseph Leo Gest, Hubbard, Ohio. He is preceded in death by two sisters, Jean Tuck and Elizabeth Ann Rohde.
The family suggests contributions be made to the American Heart Association or the American Diabetes Association in lieu of flowers.
Visitation and Funeral Service
Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, January 26, a Rosary will be prayed at 7:30 p.m. at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at Holy Cross Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery in Lenexa.
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To the Family of Jim Gest,
We are stunned with Jims Passing. Our company is very grateful to have experienced Jim Gest and his relationship with Mid Continent Tool and Molding for the better part of 20 years. Jim helped to forge a lasting relationship between his company and ours that is strong today. Jim was a man of true integrity and his help and assistance was always appreciated. The measure of a man is how many people he touched and helped. He will be missed as a friend, business partner, engineer above none and a good man. From the employees of Mid Continent to all of the Gest Family, Thank you for Jim and he will be missed.
Regards,
Kevin E Godsey
CEO/Owner
Mid Continent Tool and Molding, Inc.
I worked with Jim at Puritan-Bennett and found him to be a very ethical, concerned and helpful co-worker. I also was in a fishing outing with him, which allowed me to see Jim outside of work. He loved life and had a vibrant and warm personality. I am so glad that during my life I had a chance to spend time with such a quality individual.
I hope that Jim’s family will have warm memories of him and know that he made a positive difference in my life.
Essie,
My sincerest sympathy at this time of grief.
I became very close to JIm during the last year or so as we struggled with the overwhelming challenge of the 787 program. Jim was a critical member of our team and somone I greatly relied on as part of my work. Everypne else who worked with him and got to know him feels the same way. His smile was infectuous. I have heard from many of his friends in the Everett Washinton facility and they also want to have you know how much he was cherished by all.
Roger Moffett
To Jim’s Family:
I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed knowing Jim. He was a great infuence to me as a young engineer just joining Puritan-Bennett in 1987. He was always willing to provide help and support when I got stuck, and could not find a supplier. Not only that, he taught me to take a second look at things to see if there was a better way to do it. I loved playing golf with Jim and Charlie Aulgur. I looked forward to the week in league when we played those two guys….it was a blast. Take care of yourselves, and know that Jim will be missed by many folks.
God Bless,
Dave Prueter
To the family of Jim
If you meet one person in a thousand that you can call friend, you have achieved a rare thing in life. I was very proud to call Jim friend, and honored to be called his friend. The world is dimmer now. My prayers and thoughts are with you and your son.
With all my love, Lee
Essie,
I will really miss Jim. He had a lot of similarities to my father from the love of woodworking to the loss of fingers. Jim was creative and could tell some of the best Charlie Aulgur stories. He was always busy, and never stopped when there was a job to do. I am sure he is already hard at work preparing a special place for us all in heaven.