Robert Gale Kesner

Robert was born in Kansas City, Missouri on February 28, 1944 to Howard and Gladys Kesner. When Robert was 8 months old, his family moved to Idaho. He was raised on a farm in Kuna and graduated from Kuna High School in 1962. In the footsteps of his father who worked for the Santa Fe Railroad, Robert worked for the Pacific Food Express in Nampa welding train cars. In February of 1963, Robert enrolled in the Air National Guard and went to train in Texas as an aircraft mechanic. He was honorably discharged in February of 1969.

In August of 1971 Robert married Tonya Joyce Gellings. Their union brought the arrival of a daughter; Amy Nicole Kesner (Evans). At that time, Robert was managing the One Hour Martinizing dry cleaning store off of 15 ^th street in Boise where he enjoyed his affiliation with his boss and friend H. Dean Summers and numerous employees. His employees called him Kesherinofinklesnortlio; a nickname that stayed with him for the rest of his life, mostly used by his daughter Amy. Robert and Tonya later divorced, and he married Ramona Kaye Burke in June of 1986. Together they shared a daughter; Alexandra Victoria Elizabeth Kesner (now Rex Elina Funk). Although Robert’s marriage to Kaye only lasted ten years, he formed a special bond with Kaye’s three sons; Michael, Nalin and Jonathan, who he cared for deeply for the remainder of his life.

In June of 1989, Robert went to work for the Ada County Highway District where he was a welder mechanic. He loved working for the county and made numerous friends during his 20 years there. He retired in October of 2009. He returned to Kuna and built a home where he could enjoy his retirement. Eventually, Robert’s memory started to fade and he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in early 2016. He resided at Ashley Manor Memory Care in Boise until the time of his death.

The light and loves of Robert’s life were his girls. He was the best girl Dad. He enjoyed spending time with them hiking, exploring, camping, fishing and cooking big meals to share as a family. He always said he was so lucky because he got to spend so much time with them, more than most Dads living under similar circumstances. And he never forgot who they were up until the day he died.

Robert was a devout Christian and enjoyed being a part of the congregation at the Vineyard Christian church in Garden City and Life Church in Meridian. He missed being able to go to church after he got sick, but he had numerous bibles and scriptures he would read on a regular basis. May his spirit soar as he joins those who have gone before him.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents, brothers; Howard, William, Charles Thomas, his sister Carol Lee Harper, and his two best friends Francis German and Larry Joseph.

Robert is survived by his daughters; Amy Nicole Evans (Mark) and Rex Elina Funk (Marc) and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews who he adored.

Due to the current pandemic restrictions, we are unable to have the type of funeral Robert deserves. A celebration of life is being planned for June of 2021. Family and friends will be contacted with details at a later date.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at aldenwaggoner.com.