John Trester

John William Trester, 86, of rural Iola, Kansas, died Thursday, December 17, 2015 at 4:00pm, at Windsor Place assisted living care. He was born May 2, 1929 on the family farm in Allen County, Kansas to Charles Burton and Lottie Vanetta (Scott) Trester. John, one of 12 children, grew up in rural Allen and Anderson counties attending rural schools in the area leaving school after the eighth grade to work farm ground for his father. John married Verba L. Wilson December 2, 1950 and first made their home in Gas, KS and were later divorced. He married Millie L. Thornton on September 5, 1980 while living in LaHarpe, then moving to the rural ground north of Gas, where he designed and built their home into the hillside. In his youth he worked his father's farm ground with a horse drawn plow and planter. He also worked with his father cleaning out houses and hired out to break horses to pulling harness and for saddle riding. He learned to shoe horses and this was another avenue for income. In early adult years after leaving home he worked for a slaughter house in Iola and began his own septic tank cleaning service which he actively managed for more than 60 years. John was no stranger to hard work and often would take on duties of more than one job to earn income for his family. He had a hay hauling crew and drove a truck for Cyrus Truck Line hauling crude oil during the 1960s. He worked at a tire service shop in Iola and also as a part time mechanic. John purchased and operated a successful milk route hauling service collecting milk from dairy farms in Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, Wilson and Neosho counties. This was during the era of manually handling 10 gallon milk cans before bulk tanks evolved. He delivered milk in this method to the Pet Milk Plant then located in Iola. While on his farm near Humboldt, then moving to one located north of LaHarpe, and again on a farm north of Gas, he had his own dairy cattle and sold milk for processing. As other part-time work, with his brother-in-law Bob Wilson remodeling houses, finishing sheetrock and custom ceiling texture, then invested to buy and remodeled houses on his own. With his brother Jake, began servicing state highway rest areas cleaning the septic tanks at those locations. John and Jake also contracted for tree removal services and even moved houses for hire. Years later he operated a back-hoe service installing septic tanks and lateral drainage pipe. He was always willing to offer his help to others. John is a man who has truly been a "jack of all trades". During leisure time he was probably most satisfied when he was working on any project that was outside or in the workshop. Though he didn't take much time out for hobbies he enjoyed hunting raccoon in years past, and for several years he enjoyed and sold the birds he raised in his aviary, primarily cockatiels. He is survived by his wife Millie of the home; four sons, Monroe, Iola; Randall, Boise, ID; Stewart, Iola; Lyle Matthews, Grandview, MO; a daughter, Kathy Bale, Hutchinson; 10 grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren; and several great-great grandchildren; with many nieces and nephews. John was the last sibling of the twelve brothers and sisters; Floyd Jake Trester, Gladys Opal Cornett, Pansy Ruth Mae (Riley) Kennedy, Lloyd Ervin Meek, Hazel Craghton Knowlton, Violet Mae Hutton, Elihue Byrd "Shorty" Trester, Bert Andrew Trester, Albert Trester, Lillie Ester McCullough and Daisy Beatrice Jones; and was also preceded in death by a son, Floyd Andrew Byrd Trester who died shortly after birth. In honoring his wishes, cremation and omission of funeral service will be observed. Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel of Iola, assisted the family. To sign the guestbook online or leave a condolence, go to www.iolafuneral.com .