Charlene "Char" Marie Kester (nee Dickey)

The family of Charlene "Char" Marie Kester (nee Dickey) of Cottage Grove, is saddened to announce her passing on Sunday, December 8, 2024 at the age of 70 years after a brief battle with Cancer. 

She will be lovingly remembered by her husband of 26 years, Tony; children: April (Jason) Degler and Steve (Tracy) Krech; grandchildren: Dylan, Heather, and Autumn; siblings, Deb (Fran) Weber, Barbara (Phil) Glines-Dixon, Donald Dickey, Joanne (David) Riehle, Michelle (Ron) Soule, Michael Dickey and Kathleen Dyer; step-sister Linda (Bruce) Nybakken, goddaughter Kristina Weber as well as numerous nieces, nephews and friends. 

Char was predeceased by her parents, Edward Dickey and Virginia Hell; step-father Clarence Hell; step-mothers Donna Curtis and Helen Broich; brother, Patrick Dickey; step-brother John Hell; niece, Amanda Soule and her beloved dogs Maggie and Mollie. 

Char graduated in 1972 from South St. Paul High School. She then received her Associate Degree in Business from the Minnesota School of Business. She has always had an excellent work ethic and worked full-time as an Expense Management Coordinator at CHS until her passing. She always had the ability to make anyone smile. She enjoyed spending time with her family and dogs Gemma and Bailey at their camper in Pathfinder Village. Her passions included watching the Minnesota Vikings, Amazon shopping to buy gifts for others, cooking with the most recent Ninja Foodi product, making desserts with recipes passed down for generations, watching Hallmark Christmas movies, and planning everything for the family Christmas Eve. 

The family would like to thank nurses Kajchu, Carissa, Kate and Virginia at United Hospital (Saint Paul) on the Oncology floor, for their compassionate care of Char and making her final days peaceful and full of love. 

A Visitation will be held from 5:00 - 7:00pm, on Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at Kok Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 7676 80th St S, Cottage Grove, MN 55016.