Zackery L. Estes
October 7, 1982 ~ January 22, 2024
Zackery Estes, age 41, passed away, surrounded by loved ones, on January 22, 2024. He was a father, a husband, a brother, an uncle, a best friend, and a warrior.
Born in the fall of 1982, he was always on the move and highly active. He found himself with an older brother, Nathan, who he admired and always wanted to be with. This provided many opportunities for adventure as he tried to tag along with Nathan everywhere. His desire to explore persisted into adulthood. He was eager to meet new people and experience unfamiliar places. Sometimes blurring the line between adventurous fun and trouble along the way. He was extremely outgoing and never failed to leave a newly made friend everywhere he went.
After he had graduated from West Fargo High School his desire to travel and explore remained. In the Summer of 2005, he joined the North Dakota Army National Guard. While in uniform he proudly served his country in Afghanistan on multiple deployments. After his enlistment he continued to serve his country in the civilian sector as a contractor overseas. This provided an opportunity to explore as a true explorer would. Bringing him to six continents and to some of the most beautiful places in the world.
It was during his time as a contractor working in Kuwait that he met who would go on to become his best friend, his wife Maricris Olivo. Together they would have two children, Adriana Estes, and Andrei Estes. Later moving to the Philippines. Never the one to sit too long he continued to explore, this time experiencing it with his family. He loved his family deeply and spoke with pride when he talked about them.
He is survived by his wife, Maricris Olivo; his children, Adriana and Andrei Estes; his sister, Kristyl Bjerke; and his brother, Nathan Estes.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Sherryl Estes; his foster parents, Edgar and Diane Weiland; and his grandparents, Eldon and Noma Davis.
Services
Gathering of Family and Friends: January 26, 2024 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Boulger Funeral Home and Celebration of Life Center
123 10th Street S.
Fargo, North Dakota 58103
701-237-6441
www.boulgerfuneralhome.com
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We are gathered here today to honor the memory of a beloved brother, friend, and comrade. While I may not have had a biological brother, I was fortunate enough to have a foster brother in you. Our journey together was not always easy, but you always made sure to include me in your life and for that, I am forever grateful.
From our days in school to working together, you were always there for me. My friendship with your best friend from middle school only solidified the bond we shared. I looked up to you as an older brother and you never hesitated to confide in me with your secrets. When my own circumstances left me lost and abandoned, it was your family who provided care and warmth, sheltering me from the cold winter months.
While our childhood may have had its challenges, I choose to remember the laughter and the moments of joy. Your love for comedy and your ability to lighten any room with your jokes will always be cherished.
I may not have agreed with your decision to join the military, but I was undeniably proud of your desire to make something of yourself. Your travels and experiences around the world were a testament to your adventurous spirit and I hope that you have found peace in your journeys.
Your Native American heritage was always a source of fascination for me, and I hope that in honoring your memory, I have also paid tribute to your ancestors and descendants. Your loving family and the adoration they have for you is a testament to the impact you had on those around you.
I forgive any hurts or offenses, knowing that you were battling your own pain. Your memory will forever be cherished and you will always hold a special place in my heart.
Journey in peace now,
farewell dear friend,
fare thee well dear brother.
Hare Krishna,
Jayadev
Zack, I’ll never forget the good times and bad that we had growing up. You were one in a million bro, and I was honestly so stunned to hear of your passing. I still miss talking to you over the years, and despite not seeing each other for years, still talking like best friends for so long. The last time we spoke, you seemed to had gone backwards, and I apologize for my response. I miss your smile, humor, and just generally positive attitude that I remember. Nothing but love for you bro.
My prayers are for Zack’s children. I pray that his travels and expreiences with them will leave an imprint in their hearts that will last a lifetime. May they always remember the best parts of him…
❤️🤍
My prayers are for Zack’s children. I pray that his travels and expreiences with them will leave an imprint in their hearts that will last a lifetime. May they always remember the best parts of him…
Zack, I can just see you so, tall and handsome, in our home in TX. My Mom still had your picture on the dresser. Always happy, and so proud of your service. I Loved to hear your stories of Afghanistan. The whole family loved you, especially my son Eli.. You left an imprint in our hearts. My sincere condolences to Zack’s family. VAYA CON DIOS.
We are still in disbelief to know you are gone. Somehow we believed we had more time, more time to pray, more time … we sit here and remember the Zack we knew, a complex man : intelligent, giving, fearless, reckless, adventurous. Above all these characteristics the one that stood out was your generosity with the people you cared about. You always remembered my love (Yolanda) for Latin American history, in your travels to see the pyramid’s in Mexico City and Playa del Carmen you brought back Meso-American ceramic and obsidian and turquoise art. Your thoughtful gifts have been on display both in my office and home, all these years.
Zack my prayer is that you now have peace.
Dear Zach you came like a sweet passing breeze into our South Texas family. Your love for all of us was contagious and we accepted you as one of us…we are saddened to know you left like a leaf blowen high into the skies of winter chills. We pray you found reconciliation, forgiveness and peace with your Creator in your final moments. Prayers for your family and friends. Vaya con Dios amigo!
Zack,
I still remember the look on your face the night we met so many years ago. I told you I loved your eyes and you said “Oh, because they’re colored, all the girls say that.” I smiled and said, “no, because you smile with them.” You said it was the best compliment anyone had ever given you.
There was a pain and sadness in them even then, but you hid it well. Every tour to Afghanistan made it harder to hide. I would have taken the pain for you if I could have.
You were my first love, my great love. We burned so bright we were destined to burn out. I loved your intelligence, your charm, your humor, your adventurous spirit, your curiosity, the way you looked at me and believed in all of my dreams.
I was blessed to have shared so many wonderful experiences with you, all the places we traveled and adventures we shared. All the pyramids we climbed and marveled at, trekking jungle paths to discover new ones. You were fearless and I felt fearless by your side.
The war changed you, and though I tried to hang on, your demons were tearing us apart.
We tried to come back together again but there was too much pain and history to get past. When I saw you for the last time, you held me tight and said “I think this is the last time we’ll see each other.” Though I protested, deep down I knew you were right.
You kept in touch over the years, and I am so grateful for our last conversation. We made our peace with one another; we spoke as dear friends. We reminisced about our travels and you told me of your wife and family. It brought me immense peace to hear of your new life.
It would be easy to say I wish things had been different, it is harder to accept that our paths were meant to intersect only for a short time.
I pray that you are at rest, that your soul has found peace and that in your final moments you saw the beauty of heaven in your children’s faces.
I choose to hold you in my dreams; in a place where you have no end.
—Ajor.
Zack, over the years it has been hard for me to not get stuck seeing the past through a dark lens. Please forgive me for this attitude as I also choose to forgive the hurt you brought upon my loved ones long ago. I realize that while our decisions are not excusable, we can make the choice to forgive and do better.
It has brought some peace to read about the last chapter of your life — how your continued adventures and your family brought you joy. Like the sunbeams that poke through thick clouds, it has helped to remind me of those memories of your laughter and bold personality. The kick everyone got out of gifting Nate a giant container of cheesy poofs for Christmas. Or you trying to guide me by phone while I was lost late at night in the backroads of rural TX — trying to reach Killeen in time for us all to have one last shindig before your deployment.
I am not sure what your last days looked like, but I sincerely hope that over the years you were able to feel God’s grace, joy, love, and peace. That those sweet memories helped to ease the pain of the past and quiet the inner turmoil, even if for a moment.