Dolores Hester
Highland | Save
Dolores Jeannine Hester, age 85 of Highland, IL, died Friday, July 11, 2025, at Saint Louis University Hospital in Saint Louis, MO.
She was born on Thursday, August 10, 1939, in Percy, IL, the daughter of Raymond and Ruby (nee Rathert) Ruebke.
On Saturday, August 31, 1963, she married John Alton Hester at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Campbell Hill, IL, who survives.
She was a member of Evangelical United Church of Christ. She was also a member of HSHS St. Joseph's Hospital Auxiliary.
Dolores was a graduate of Steelville High School and then continued on to the Jewish Hospital School of Nursing. Dolores earned her B.S. in nursing from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.
After their marriage, she and her husband moved to Cape Girardeau, Missouri and she worked at a hospital in Charleston, MO. She was also a public health nurse in Bond County, Missouri. In 1965, she joined St. Joseph’s Hospital as a floor nurse and later served as Director of Education. Dolores also taught at a nursing program for St. Joseph’s Hospital in Alton, IL.
Dolores enjoyed traveling. She went to Alaska three times and traveled the U.S. extensively. She also toured Europe and Costa Rica. Dolores loved sewing and reading. She loved attending the Silver Sneakers exercise group at the Korte Rec Center.
Survivors include:
- Husband - John Alton Hester, Highland, IL
- Daughter - Cindy J. (Tom) Ebert, Glen Carbon, IL
- Daughter - Andi J. (Dan) Reaka, Edwardsville, IL
- Grandchild - Ryan T. (Savanah) Ebert, Edwardsville, IL
- Grandchild - Claire L. (Riley) Patterson, Edwardsville, IL
- Grandchild - Alan J. Ebert, Denver, CO
- Grandchild - Cassi J. Reaka, Edwardsville, IL
- Grandchild - Cami K. Reaka, Edwardsville, IL
- Grandchild - Cadan D. Reaka, Edwardsville, IL
- Great Grandchild - Wesley J. Patterson, Edwardsville, IL
- Brother - Leo (Nancy) Ruebke, Grand Blanc, MI
She was preceded in death by:
- Father - Raymond George Wilhelm Ruebke
- Mother - Ruby Ruebke
Arrangements are being handled by Spengel-Boulanger Funeral Home in Highland, IL.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Thursday, July 24, 2025, at Spengel-Boulanger Funeral Home in Highland, IL and from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM on Friday, July 25, 2025, at Evangelical United Church of Christ in Highland, IL.
Funeral Service will be at 10:00 AM on Friday, July 25, 2025, at Evangelical United Church of Christ in Highland, IL, with Rev. William E. Kapp, Pastor, Evangelical United Church of Christ, officiating.
Interment will be at Highland City Cemetery in Highland, IL.
Memorial contributions may be made to EvUCC or HSHS St. Joseph's Hospital Auxiliary.
Spengel-Boulanger Funeral Home
