John F. Nester

Obituary: John F. Nester
John, of Kingston, NH, and Utica, NY, passed away in his home on November 6, 2023, surrounded by his family. Born January 28, 1938 in Utica, NY, John was the son of Horace (Hod) Nester and Frances Mielnik. His mother died when John was one year old and he was raised by his aunt and uncle, Martha and John Trumpowsky of Dolgeville, NY. His father traveled a lot, as he was a professional athlete playing in three sports: baseball, basketball, and bowling.
In 1958, John married his high school sweetheart, Judith Joyce Krupski, after she graduated from Utica Free Academy. John graduated from Mohawk Valley Community College and was hired by General Electric Company for testing Sidewinder guided missile components. GE moved the couple from Utica, NY to Syracuse, NY and then to Oklahoma City to work on Military Communication equipment and also on NASA Apollo project equipment.
During this period all four of John and Judy's children were born. In 1972, John transferred to GE in Lynn, MA, and settled the family to live in Kingston, NH.
Being a GE project manager led John to manage Electrical Power Plant contracts in several countries: the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Argentina, and Uruguay, but he continued maintaining the family household in Kingston, NH.
In 1995, GE moved John and Judith to Tokyo, Japan for several years for John to act as technical liaison between Tokyo Electric Power Company Engineers and General Electric's Steam Turbine Engineers in Schenectady, NY. John worked on two Nuclear power plants under construction on the Japanese Sea.
While living in Tokyo, John and Judy, as Catholics, became members of the Franciscan Chapel Center at Ropongy. John became a "3rd Order" Franciscan, and for three years, as part of the church's outreach program called the "Rice Patrol," directed the Chapel Center's distribution system of nutritional rice cakes to homeless Japanese living in the cardboard boxes at the Shinjuku train station; this program daily fed several hundred Japanese.
John and Judy returned to the United States in 2000 when John retired from GE. This culminated a career with General Electric of 42 years.
John and Judy made many friends around the world and in New Hampshire in the years living in the Ridgewood community in Kingston and as parishioners of Saint Joseph's Catholic Church in Epping, NH.
He was an adored father and grandfather, a man always there to support his family and friends. He was always there to help someone in need. He enjoyed skiing with his family so much that he designed and built a beautiful camp in the Dixville Notch area which became the place where so many cherished family memories were made. His passion for golf brought him many friends over the years that developed into great friendships. The Ridgewood neighborhood where he lived for over 50 years was a very special community where neighbors were like family, and he was loved dearly by so many.
In addition to his wife of 65 years, John is survived by his four children: Edward J. Nester and his wife Melody of North Conway, John J. Nester and his wife Michelle of Northwood, Kathleen A. Nester McGowen of Kingston, and Lisa L. Nester of Newmarket; seven grandchildren: Mariah M. McGowen and companion William J. Bates of West Newfields, Maine, Justin J. McGowen of Kingston, Shannon M. Nester of North Conway, Ryan J. and Kendall M. Nester of Northwood, and Amber R. and Aris R. Stevens of Kingston; and two great-grandchildren: Sophia M. and Aria R. Bates of West Newfields, Maine.
Also surviving John are nieces, Patricia Kanavy of Massepequa, NY, Diane Saggio of Mastic Beach, NY, and Roxanne Ciccone of Micanopy, FL.
Calling hours will be held on Monday, November 13, 2023 from 4:00-7:00 PM at the Brewitt Funeral Home, 14 Pine St., Exeter, NH.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, November 14, 2023 at 11:00 AM at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 200 Pleasant St., Epping, NH.
Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery, Kingston, NH.
For more information, visit www.brewittfuneralhome.com