Zane Eldon Estes

Zane lived two months past his 90th birthday. He died peacefully at home on October 20, 2022.

Zane was born the middle child of Louis H. and Elizabeth Estes in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He had a happy childhood there, and a good experience at Roosevelt High School. He graduated from both the undergraduate and graduate schools of the University of Iowa in Iowa City. He was a fraternity guy and despite that, excelled in his course work and chosen major fields. He was a Phi Betta Kappa and received a Bachelor of Arts degree, with distinction in 1955. He obtained his Master of Science in 1957. Zane was sought by the US Department of Agriculture to join their team of science researchers and he worked with them at the Maryland Headquarters for over five years.

He was then awarded a National Science Foundation Grant and joined Yale University to work on a PhD in Biochemistry. He terminated that association after two years. Subsequently, he was asked to join the Army Institute of Research at Walter Reed Medical Facility in Washington, D.C., where he remained for five years. He served in the Army Nurse Corps until his retirement in 1993.

Zane served in leadership positions in Nursing Administration over his nearly 28 year military career. His assignments included Supervisor at Outpatient Clinics, Walter Reed Medical Center, Hospital Night Supervisor, and Assistant Chief Nurse and Chief Nurse at several Army Hospitals in the U.S. and abroad.

Among his awards: The Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters and the Order of Military Medical Merit.

Colonel Estes married Mary Ellen Switter, formerly of Seattle, in 1989 with their first home being in Wuerzburg, Germany. He had had a previous assignment in Landstuhl, Germany. They returned to the States in 1993, and settled in Port Orchard, Washington.

He enjoyed an active retirement organizing their extensive yards and gardens and in volunteer capacities as an AARP Tax Preparer for many years and as a certified long term care ombudsman. He served the Washington State Veterans residents in Retsil, WA for 11 years through the Kitsap County Office on Aging and Long Term Care. He was a member of the County Council by the same name. He was a member of St. Gabriel Catholic Church for 30 years.

Zane enjoyed all engagements very much and would have continued for much longer had not increasing physical disabilities shortened those commitments. He enjoyed travel and in addition to the usual junkets of European military assignments, he visited Croatia, Yugoslavia, Mexico, Canada, and the Maritime Provinces. In addition Zane and Mary Ellen enjoyed trips to the Hawaiian Islands, St. Petersburg, Russia and on the Baltic Sea, Costa Rica, and Western Canada on many occasions.

Zane was an affable man with great humility and a sense of humor. He did not dwell on or advertise his many life achievements but rather downplayed them. He suffered silently - his many maladies, discomforts and disabilities. He mused that about the time he incurred a new medical issue, a new cure or procedure was found, keeping him upbeat about his renewed chances of survival.

Sadly, his father died when he was just seven years old and his two brothers, Stephen and Geoffrey died at early stages in their notable and respective careers - at ages 30 and 25. Zane oversaw his mother from then on, as his dependent, and was her loving and attentive care-giver until she died in 1988 in Tacoma, WA.

Left with no relatives, he was adopted by his wife's family, primarily in Washington, Minnesota, and Germany. His hobbies were the many dogs he cared for over his lifetime, mainly Shetland Sheep Dogs (Shelties) and tri-colored, or Blue Merle Collies. Jogging was his constant companion during his military career and early retirement and spectator sports was an entertaining past time.

Funeral Mass to be held at St. Gabriel Parish on Friday, October 28, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. with a light reception to follow.
He will be buried, along with his mother's urn at Haven of Rest Memorial Park on Friday, October 28, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. Military Honors to be rendered at the graveside.

In lieu of flowers, it is respectfully suggested that remembrances be made in Zane's name to any of the following: Any military Veteran's group, your local Humane Society, or any charity that supports the Ukrainian people.