Jarod J. Chester Obituary

 


Jarod Joseph Chester passed away on May 28, 2017.  He was born on July 20, 1982 in Des Moines, Iowa, the third of five children to Bruce and Kathleen Chester.
 Jarod grew up with his siblings in the Russell and Chariton area, attending school in both districts.  He had a great interest in technology and the sciences.  Conversations with Jarod would often turn at some point to discussing the most recent announcements from NASA or some other new mechanical or computer breakthrough. His intellectual curiosity led him to track the space station in the night sky. He found humor in the Flat Earth Society, discussing topics such as, “Is margarine really only one molecule away from being plastic?” and wearing T-shirts with messages that befuddled people. One of his favorite quotes was by Eleanor Roosevelt; “Great minds talk about ideas, average minds talk about events, and small minds talk about people.” He saw no use for gossip.
Jarod loved animals and they responded to his gentle nature. He once nurtured a wounded baby black bird to full health and it would fly back to him from the trees when it was time to be fed.
He greatly enjoyed outdoor activities such as camping, boating, fishing, and riding motorcycles.
Jarod was a dedicated father to his son, Jace, and delighted in taking him on outdoor adventures and teaching him as many things about life that he could. He will be missed for all the little things that made him who he was. He was a cherished son, and brother who was always willing to help out his family members.
For his 16th birthday, Jarod was given an electric guitar by his Aunt Mary Jo and he taught himself how to play. He liked playing so much, he moved on to the acoustic guitar and for several years was fascinated with classical music.
Jarod was a quiet, sensitive soul who didn’t share much with people outside his family and his family loved him beyond words. When we shared stories of our faith in God, Jarod would also talk about his affection for Saint Therese and her example of how to live life. Very definitively he said he knew without any doubt that God was real, there is a Heaven, and he had no fear of death. This gives us all much consolation.
Jarod was preceded in death by his grandfather, Charles Chester, and his step-grandfather Dennis O’Brien.  He is survived by his son, Jace Chester, and his mother Billie Cole Williams; parents Bruce and Kathleen Chester of Chariton; brothers Tanner Chester and friend Jen Finch, and James Chester, both of Chariton; sisters Tiffany Johnston and husband Jacob of Chariton, and Courtney Chester of Ottumwa; a niece Kelsie Chester, nephews Michael Chester, Peter, Jude, and Xavier Johnston all of Chariton; Grandmother Mary Louise O'Brien of Chariton; Grandparents Joe and Rose O'Reilly of Omaha; Aunts and Uncles include Mary Jo O’Reilly of Omaha, Jim and Jeannie (O’Reilly) Torzala of Kentucky, Phillip O’Reilly of Kansas City, John and Nang O’Reilly of Las Vegas, Rich and Jacque Chester of Chariton, and Starla Atwell and friend Rick Durr of Moravia, and many cousins and friends.