Debra Ann "Deb" Kester

Debra Ann Kester – Rochester, MN Deb was born in Montevideo, MN on April 8, 1954 to Harris "Spud" Broin and Donna (Rudd) Broin. She was the firstborn daughter of the family and just like her father, she carried on the redhead tradition in the Broin family. She grew up in Austin, MN with her sisters, Susan and Kristin. Deb had fond memories of attending Shaw Elementary and Austin High School. She was of the generation that remembers moms being there when you came home from school, bike riding around town with friends, listening to rock-n-roll on 45 RPM singles, ice skating on a frozen pond at Skinner Hill, and playing outside with neighborhood friends until the street lights came on and parents called you home. These memories of Austin are what she remembered most fondly throughout her life. Deb graduated from Austin High School in 1972 and moved with her family to Rochester where she met the love of her life, Bob Kester. They were married on August 3, 1975 and had two wonderful sons, Shaun and Joe. Watching them grow up gave Deb the most joy in life. Boy Scouts, hockey games, school activities – she was there for all of it. It wasn't easy at times because after Bob had a brain aneurysm in 1984 their marriage did not last. However, their love for each other remained a constant and they worked together, along with extended family, to be there for their sons. In August 2016 they became grandparents when Shaun and his wife Sarah had a son, Benjamin. Three years later they had a daughter, Kira. Every holiday and special event was a time for the whole family, including grandparents and siblings to get together to celebrate. After becoming a mom Deb went back to school at Winona State University and majored in Special Education. She graduated in 1994 with her Bachelor of Science-Teaching degree. May 2001 she completed her Master's of Arts and Education from Hamline University. She found purpose and took pride in her ability to work with students who had special needs. Of the many things Deb enjoyed, the Fourth of July reunions with cousins in South Dakota were at the top of the list. She also returned to Austin many times to attend the county fair she loved as a child, and she and her sister Sue attended the MN State Fair yearly. To say Deb was an avid Vikings fan is an understatement. On game days you would find her seated in her favorite chair, glass of wine by her side, ready to cheer them on, win or lose. She was thrilled to attend a game with Sue in 2017. Deb retired from teaching in 2023. She continued to substitute for a year until her illness, frontotemporal dementia (FTD) made it impossible to continue working. After retirement she always hoped to travel and watch her grandchildren grow up but FTD took that away from her. She will always be remembered as a caring, loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and mother-in-law. Deb is survived by her two sons Shaun (Sarah) Kester of Rochester,MN and Joseph Kester of Rochester, MN; two grandchildren Benjamin and Kira Kester; sisters Susan Broin of Maplewood, MN and Kristin (Ronald) Broin-Pierson of Tehachapi, CA; former sisters-in-law Linda (Jerry) Brink and Kathy Beckwith, and former brother-in-law Lynn Kester, along with many loving nieces, nephews and cousins. Deb is preceded in death by her parents, former husband Bob Kester, his parents Cyril and Ethel Kester, and his brother and sister Wayne Kester and Diane Vogen. Memorials may be directed to Paws and Claws Humane Society in Rochester.