Robert Edward Esterling

Robert E. "Bob" Esterling

Bob Esterling, age 82, passed away peacefully at Samaritan Evergreen Hospice in Albany, Oregon on April 10, 2024, after a courageous battle with bladder cancer and acute myeloid leukemia. 

Bob was born on June 17, 1941 in Denver, Colorado and grew up in the Denver suburb of Aurora, Colorado.  He was very active in the Boy Scouts growing up and was very proud to have attained the rank of Eagle Scout.  He attended Aurora High School and then the University of Colorado in Boulder.  He began his professional journey in Colorado with Borden Foods, where he honed his skills in sales and marketing. He next worked for Mountain Wine Distributing, a division of Gallo Wines.  That job led him to Anchorage, Alaska in 1975, where he was to spend "one year" creating a wine department for Alaska Distributors.  Falling in love with the beauty and people of Alaska, he became the General Manager and later Vice President of Alaska Distributors where he spent the next 21 years.  

He met Kim Good in 1986 while she was working for Alaska Distributors in the Seattle office.  After four months of long-distance dating, Kim moved to Anchorage and they later wed in 1990.  In 1997, he and Kim left Alaska to move to Corvallis, Oregon.  Thus began his next adventure as a "grape farmer," as he liked to refer to himself.  They purchased 11 acres, built a home, and Esterling Vineyards was born.  Bob designed, planted and maintained the vineyard, doing all the work himself, and grew some very fine and even award-winning pinot noir grapes in the Willamette Valley.  Some of his most enjoyable times were spent driving his John Deere tractor while working in his vineyard and listening to music or talk radio.  In 2015, Kim and Bob "sold the farm," retired from the vineyard life, and moved to Albany, Oregon, Kim's home town.  

Bob was very active in every community in which he lived, volunteering for many various causes, committees and boards.  He attended so many luncheon and dinner meetings over the years that he always joked he wanted his headstone to read "He has eaten his last buffet!"  He was a very patriotic person who would become misty-eyed when he heard the National Anthem.  Bob was a member of Rotary since moving to Anchorage in 1975, first in the Anchorage East Rotary Club where he was a Past President; then the Rotary Club of Greater Corvallis; and finally, the Greater Albany Rotary Club.  He loved spending time with family and friends, traveling (especially Kona, Hawaii), scuba diving, riding his beloved Harley Davidson, riding snow machines, fine food and wine, and taking trips in his motorhome.  He also enjoyed playing golf and was a past member of both the Corvallis Country Club and Springhill Country Club in Albany. 

Bob is survived by his wife and best friend of 38 years, Kim Good Esterling; his two sons, Rob (Cathy) and Rick (Beth); sister Carole Schultz; grandsons Clay and Logan; three great-grandchildren; brother-in-law Tim Good (Annette); and many nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents Cy and Susie, and grandson Dylan.

No local services are planned at this time.  Donations may be made in Bob's memory to Rotary International, c/o Greater Albany Rotary Club, PO Box 1629, Albany, OR 97321; or donate online directly at https://my.rotary.org/en/donate.

Bob was a great husband, father, friend and mentor to the many people he had the pleasure to know over his very full life.  He truly loved life and was always looking forward to what would come next.  The world will be a little less bright without Bob in it.  He was one of a kind and is already missed.

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