Frances Koester

A memorial service for Frances Koester, 95, of Eldorado was held Saturday, Aug. 20, at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Eldorado. Pastor Ginny Olson officiated.

Burial was in St. Peter Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers were Dave Garlow, Bret Koester, Mariah Koester, Preston Koester, Doug Nelson, Joshua Koester, Asher Koester, Claire Koester.

Frances died quietly at sunrise, her favorite time of day, on Monday, Aug. 15, 2016.

Frances Koester was born June 20, 1921 on the family farm. Her parents were Glenn (Scott) and Edwin Wagner. She had six brothers and sisters: Clair, Carl (Vera), Helen (Reynold) Baumler, Vern (Marvel), Iva (Jack) Adrian, and Amy (Robert) Burgess.

She was baptized April 5, 1942, at First Methodist Church in West Union and confirmed July 8, 1945, by Pastor Foege at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Eldorado.

Raised on the farm, Frances preferred being outside than doing anything in the house. She loved milking cows, working cattle and gardening. This never changed throughout her lifetime.

Frances completed country school at Dover #5. She lived in West Union with her Aunt Nell and Uncle Roy, and she graduated from West Union High School.

Frances was united in marriage with Charlie Koester Feb. 4, 1944, by Rev. Foege in the St. Peter parsonage. They settled onto the farm where Charlie was born. They had two sons, Kenneth (Carolyn) and Richard. Frances had two grandsons, Kenneth (Kimberly) and Michael (Phyllis) and six great-grandchildren: Bret (fiancée Sally), Joshua, Mariah, Asher, Preston, and Claire.

She was a member of Friendly Homemakers and a girls’ 4-H leader. She loved teaching young girls to sew. Frances was especially happy to teach her great-granddaughter to sew and instill a love of sewing in Mariah.

Frances was an excellent cook. She taught Richard how to cook and bake as she talked him through the recipes step by step.

A hard worker, she thrived on making big meals, then taking them to the field when needed, completing outside chores, and then going to the barn to milk cows. Then she would go into the house to fix a meal for supper.

Frances loved being a grandmother and great-grandmother. She was always ready to go anywhere they were participating in any activity.

Charlie died May 20, 1996. Frances and son Richard lived together until Sept. 3, 2015, when she became a resident of Maple Crest Manor in Fayette.

Frances will be missed by all her family and friends. May her memory be blessed among us.