John David Estes

Born May 10, 1944 in Peoria to John, Sr. and Imogene (Koestner) Estes, he married Jean Meier in 1965. He later married Patsy Diane (Galloway) Pollock on December 15, 1990 in Peoria. She survives.

Also surviving are his four children, Jana (Estes) Remmert, Robert C. Estes, Steven J. Estes and step-daughter, Tamera (Pollock) Pardo; nine grandchildren and two great-granddaughters.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Richard Lee Estes and one sister, Sandy Estes.

John graduated from Richwoods High School in Peoria. He later studied engineering at Bradley University.

He loved sports including, hunting, golf, baseball, bowling, skeet shooting, and basketball. He coached little league for 13 years. He also shot over 100 deer in Mississippi and Texas.

John was quite the entrepreneur. He opened his own leather business, selling leather coats, hats and personalized belts and more.

He bought a 243 acre farm in 1992, where he grew and raised cattle. John Farmed for 11 years. He also had several rental properties.

Later, John taught country and western dance and won many competitions, including first place in the nationals with his wife Patsy in 1985.

In 1997 John bought a bar in Washington and named it Little Texas Saloon. He managed the saloon himself as well as working the bartender there.

John’s main career was working at Caterpillar Inc for 37 years as a senior quality engineer in management. He retired in 2000. He spent two years working in Piracicaba, Brazil.

He was one of the hardest working men of his lifetime.

After his retirement, John moved to Gulfport, Mississippi in 2004, where he lived for seven years before moving to Gilbert, Arizona in 2011. He moved back to Illinois in 2016 for his family.

John loved spending time with his wife and all his family.

His graveside service will be 10 a.m. Friday, August 4, 2023 at Prairie Haven Cemetery in Pekin. Arrangements have been entrusted to Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory, Pekin. Family and friends are invited to attend a celebration of life following the graveside service at Patsy's home.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Midwest Affiliate, 530 Northeast Glen Oak Avenue, Peoria, Illinois 61637 and Tazewell Animal Protective Society, 100 Taps Lane Pekin, Illinois 61554.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com