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Lonnie B. Kester
Born: 1/8/1958
Died: 1/29/2026
Age: 68
Community: Millington, MI
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Visitation for Lonnie will be held Wednesday, February 4, 2026 at Hanlin Funeral Home in Millington, MI from 1:00 to 8:00 p.m. with another day of visiting on Thursday, February 5, 2026 at Hanlin Funeral Home Millington, MI from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Lonnie's Funeral will be on Friday, February 6, 2026 at St. Paul Lutheran Church Millington, MI at 1:00 p.m. with a time of visiting an hour before the service. Lonnie will be laid to rest following the funeral in Millington Twp. Cemetery.
Lonnie B. Kester, 68, of Millington, MI, peacefully joined his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Thursday, January 29th, 2026, at home with his loving family by his side.
Lonnie was born on January 8th, 1958, to Cleon and Hilda (Keinath) Kester in Saginaw, MI. In his childhood, he attended St. Paul Lutheran School and was confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Millington, later graduating from Millington High School, Class of 1976. He was an active 4-H member, participating at numerous county fairs and was the President of the Millington FFA Chapter, earning the prestigious American Farmer Degree, along with many other accolades. He married his sweetheart, Carol, on June 28th, 1980. They were blessed with 45 years of marriage and just recently celebrated 50 years together since their first date. Together, they raised two children: William and Sarah, instilling in them a love for God and the value of hard work.
Lonnie was a dedicated farmer and enjoyed 50 years of working the land. Throughout the years, he raised sheep, pigs, and cattle, while also planting and harvesting wheat, corn, soybeans, hay, and straw. Baling hay for him was like going to the lake on a sunny afternoon. He loved dirt, whether he was out in the field tilling it or buying it. He devoted his life to agriculture. So much so, his family could only enjoy spending time at their cabin near Higgins Lake on rainy days, where the beach was all theirs. His son, William, worked beside him for 30 years, and Lonnie was still looking forward to driving the tractor in the hayfields this coming season. His favorite color was green, from the color of his Camaro to the fields he tirelessly labored in. He loved adventure, going on buggy rides with friends and taking spontaneous day trips.
Lonnie was an honorable man. He was unique, strong-willed, and loved by all that knew him. He had countless friendships of whom he cherished. He could go to any corner of the state and bump into someone he knew. He recently was in the middle of coordinating and hosting his 50th class reunion for his classmates (don’t worry, it will continue on as planned).
Lonnie was full of innovation, always coming up with new ideas on how to make the community a better place for everyone. Building a rail trail from Millington to Columbiaville became a goal of his. The Southern Links Trailway was constructed after 10 years of planning and has been enjoyed by many throughout the state of Michigan and beyond. He served for 19 years as a board member on the Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance and was a member on the Friends of the Southern Links Trailway Council. He was a true trailblazer in every sense. He was also an active member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Millington, on the Tuscola County Planning Commission, and a board member at Dyna Products. He served on numerous boards and committees throughout his lifetime, including the Genesee County Fair Board, Millington Township Board of Review, Millington Rotary Club, and the Tuscola County Farm Bureau Board where he was honored with the Distinguished Service to Agriculture award in 2023. His acts of service and list of accomplishments were never-ending.
Above all, Lonnie was an obedient witness for Jesus Christ, genuinely sharing his faith and the gospel to all. He showed kindness and compassion to everyone he met, generously willing to lend a helping hand and engage in conversation, even with total strangers. He loved to joke and tell stories. He would often begin a conversation with a joke and always end it with “Have a blessed day today and always!!!”.
In his later years, God allowed him to slow down and focus on what truly matters - prioritizing his faith, family, and friends. Lonnie found strength in the fact that God is in control, guiding and directing his steps, and always gave God the glory in all things. He consciously made the effort to make many cherished memories with his children and grandchildren, consistently attending all of their events and horse shows all over the state, cheering them on with heartfelt love and praise.
Lonnie is survived by his wife Carol Kester, son William Kester (Tina Lisecki), daughter Sarah (Nathanael) Thayer, grandsons Evan and Colton Thayer, brother Gailan (Linda) Kester, sister Tammy (John) Kowitz, sister-in-law Brenda (Paul) Price, along with many nieces, nephews, and extended family. He is preceded in death by his father and mother, Cleon and Hilda Kester; sisters, Sharon (Larry) Dekker and Nancy (Stan) Johns; in-laws, Raymond and Harriet Hunt.
In lieu of flowers, donations and memorial gifts of remembrance in Lonnie’s name can be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church in Millington, Southern Links Trailway, or the Millington-Arbela Historical Society. |
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| Visitation |
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2/4/2026 |
| Time: |
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1:00 PM |
| Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026 from 1 - 8 p.m. and Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026 from 1 -8 p.m. at Hanlin Funeral Home in Millington (4823 Main St., Millington, MI 48746). |
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| Funeral Service |
| Date: |
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2/6/2026 |
| Time: |
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1:00 PM |
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| Location: |
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St. Paul Lutheran Church, Millington
4941 Center Street
Millington, MI 48746Get a Map to this location...
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