Dr. Bill Estes

Dr. Bill Estes, 69, of Sioux Center, IA, died November 21, 2015, at Sioux Center Health.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday from 4-8PM, with the family present from 5-7PM at Christ Community Evangelical Church of Sioux Center.

A prayer service for family and friends will be held on Wednesday at 10:00AM at Christ Community Evangelical Church of Sioux Center. Interment will follow the prayer service in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday at 11:00AM at the Christ Community Evangelical Free Church of Sioux Center with Rev. Randy Widbin officiating.

The Estes family prefers memorials to Christ Community Church, ATLAS of Sioux Center or Sioux Center Health Foundation.

Dr. Billy James Estes, D.D.S. passed away on November 21, 2015. Dr. Estes was born July 29, 1946 in Columbia, South Carolina to T.J. and Patricia Estes. Their family moved to Aurelia, Iowa when he was 2½ years old. He graduated from Aurelia High School in 1964. He married his high school sweetheart Patricia Marie Anderson on December 30, 1965. He attended Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, Iowa for his undergraduate studies. He then attended dental school at the University of Iowa where he received his D.D.S. degree in May 1970.

Bill faithfully fulfilled his vocational call in serving his community as a dentist for almost 44 years. Bill was one of the youngest dentists in the state. He graduated at age 23 and started his practice in Sioux Center, Iowa, which hadn’t had a new dentist for 40 years. He pioneered the practice of preventative dentistry and encouraged the city to put fluoride in the water to help prevent tooth decay. He had a solo practice for 8 years, until 1978 when Dr. R.G. Boeyink joined Dr. Estes. In December 1980, Dr. Estes, Pat and family moved to San Diego, California to go on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ. They returned home in June 1982. Dr. R.G. Boeyink retired in June 2006 after practicing together for 28 years. Bill once again had a solo practice until Dr. Juan Uribe joined him in June 2008. They practiced together until May 2014. Bill gave his very loyal staff credit for his success and enjoyed his conversations and friendships with his patients.

Bill made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ in 1972 and his life was changed forever. After that he was baptized and became a member of Dover Alliance Church in Orange City where he served as an elder for 13 years. Following the Lord’s leading, Bill and Pat hosted a Bible study in their home. Led by Pastor Arlyn Abrams, a church planter, this led to the start of Christ Community Church in January 1990, where Bill and Pat became charter members. He also taught numerous Sunday school classes, small groups in their home and served as an elder for 10 years..

Bill was on the original ATLAS board and served for 14 years. Although he didn’t usually like meetings, he enjoyed meeting with the board, sharing ideas, discussing goals and was known to think outside the box.

If Bill wasn’t at the office, you could find him at the golf course, where he was known to golf in almost any kind of weather and go from sun up to sun down. He worked out and lifted weights regularly. In his younger days he enjoyed jogging, tennis, racquet ball and water skiing. Bill enjoyed spending time with his wife, Pat and family. They enjoyed golfing together (most of the time), going out to movies, having dinner with friends and taking walks together.

He loved spending time with his grandkids. Bill would make up fun stories to tell them and then encourage them to make up one to tell him. He would fish at the lake, look at boats with them, go for nutty bars in the boat or just play in the pool. He treasured any time with his family.

He was known for his faith which never wavered through this long valley, as well as his kindness, generosity and wisdom. Bill was a great conversationalist with a quick wit and wonderful sense of humor. He will be greatly missed by anyone who had the privilege of spending time with him.

Bill is survived by his wife, Patricia Estes of Sioux Center; daughter and son-in-law, Molly and Wendell Van Beek of Sioux Center; son and daughter-in-law, Billy J. and Jana Estes of Charleston, SC; three grandchildren: Kendra Gort and husband Spencer, Koleby Van Beek, Ellaree Estes; sister, Ann Short of Des Moines, IA; sister and brother-in-law, Pat and Dan Menke of Calumet, IA; brothers and sisters-in-law: Tom and Doris Estes of Sioux Center, Mike and Deb Estes of Traer, IA; mother-in-law, Donna Anderson of Aurelia, IA; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Katherine and Dick Mazoyer of Charlotte, NC, Jackie and Tom Bliel of Hornick, IA, Angie and Harry Endrulat of Lincoln, NE; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Ron and Dian Anderson of Aurelia, IA, Randy and Deb Anderson Cherokee, IA, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; infant brother, Stephen; father-in-law, Lawrence Anderson.