True Friends
Posted on October 20, 2026 at 1:03 PM by Sydney Parker
Without even knowing, many Iowans share a connection with Bob and Patti Jester. Maybe it’s via a hike through land the Jesters once owned. Perhaps the connection is as a client at Jester Insurance, the company founded by Bob’s great-grandfather. Maybe a family favorite meal came from one of Patti Jester’s cookbooks. Through their professions, passions, outstanding spirit of generosity and their love of the outdoors, the Jester family has touched lives far and wide.
The Jesters also share a deep connection with INHF. Bob Jester has been on Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation’s Board of Directors for the last 25 years, including serving as board chair and tending to the organization’s financial health as chair of the investment committee.
“I’ve seen firsthand the care and clarity he brings to every decision,” says Carole Reichardt, INHF board member. “His financial insight has strengthened INHF’s long‑term stability, and his commitment to protecting Iowa’s natural landscapes is enduring and unwavering.”
A lifelong Iowan, Bob was born in Des Moines and has been a lover of the outdoors since childhood, playing at the park near his house or on his grandpa’s farm. He attended Iowa State University where he met his wife, Patti, as organizers of VEISHEA, a week-long, student-run celebration. They both went on to have fulfilling professional lives. Bob began working at Jester Insurance, the company his great-grandfather founded in 1897, making a successful career and earning a spot in the Iowa Insurance Hall of Fame. Patti, a graduate of the dietetics program, led a prolific career as a food journalist, writing over a dozen cookbooks.
Though the couple enjoyed out-of-state vacations and both of their jobs involved travel, Iowa remained home. It’s clear from just a short conversation that Bob is profoundly fond of this state. From the Missouri to the Mississippi, and from outdoor recreation to fertile cropland, Bob is an outspoken advocate for Iowa’s open space and natural beauty.
“Unfortunately, some people don’t think there is anything to preserve in Iowa,” Bob shakes his head. “Although, I think that feeling is slowly going away, and people are realizing there’s beauty here in the land, and they see we have an incredible number of ecosystems to protect.”
Bob and Patti have had a hand in the protection of many areas across the state — some of which are now popular attractions and others safeguarded for the inherent value of sensitive resources. More than once, their support has made all the difference. In 2011, INHF identified a 22-acre area in northeast Iowa that needed protection. Overlooking the Upper Iowa River, the bluff and its scenic viewshed was vulnerable to development, but the path for protection wasn’t clear. Without fanfare, the Jesters purchased the land — now aptly called Jester Bluffs — and donated it to INHF so it could be protected and carefully stewarded in perpetuity.
“That’s just the kind of people Bob and Patti are,” Joe McGovern, INHF President explains. “Doing what they can and not expecting anything in return.”
That spirit of generosity must be a Jester family tradition. When Bob’s father and uncle inherited Bob’s grandfather’s farm, they chose to donate it to Polk County Conservation. Today, the farm is known as Jester Park, a 1,661-acre hub for outdoor recreation including natural playscapes for children, environmental education classes and programs, an equestrian center, equipment rentals, a golf course, camping and hiking trails and more. What could have remained a valuable family asset is now an asset to an entire county — and beyond — and provides multiple pathways for people to connect with and enjoy nature.
Bob and Patti’s philanthropy has also yielded lasting personal connections. As Iowa State University alumni, the pair contribute funds to scholarships that provide full tuition to two students each school year. The Jester’s generosity has directly resulted in the education of over two dozen students, many of whom have stayed in touch with the couple.
INHF has also grown through their passion for education. Bob helped create INHF’s J. Edward Power Fellowship in memory of Joseph Edward Power Jr. who served on INHF’s board for almost 20 years and, like Bob, helped to shape the organization. The fellowship paves the way for young adults looking to kickstart their career through experience with INHF’s development and legal teams.
Despite this long list of accomplishments and efforts, Bob and Patti embody humility, quietly improving the world around them by putting their feelings into action. Their love for Iowa — of today and tomorrow — is palpable. Bob cares deeply about knowing and protecting this land and believes that others will be equally compelled if they just get out to see it for themselves.
“I’ve driven well over a million miles, and I’ve been in every county. You’ve got to get out and see it,” said Bob. “It will be hard not to care about it once you do.”
Unwaveringly altruistic, Bob and Patti Jester have underscored that investing in Iowa is worth it. INHF — and the rest of Iowa — is fortunate to have these friends in their corner.
Bob and Patti are pictured at their Orcas Island property in the San Juan Islands, a favorite vacation and sailing spot of forty years. Their love for the archipelago’s coastal landscapes goes beyond passive enjoyment — through conservation easements and land donated to the San Juan Preservation Trust, the couple protected hundreds of acres of Washington cliffs and forests that would otherwise have been lost to development. The San Juan Preservation Trust honored the Jesters’ quiet conservation work with The Woodland Stewardship Award in 2009.
