Merlin William KOESTER

KOESTER, SALMON, MANDSAGER, NEARY, MICKELSON, STEPHENSON, PORTER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 8/25/2013 at 14:41:09

July 1, 1923 --- September 9, 2008

Merlin W. Koester, 85, of Fort Dodge, died Tuesday, September 9, 2008, at Trinity Regional Medical Center. Services will be 10 a.m. on Friday, September 12, at St. Paul Lutheran Church with the Rev. Allen Henderson officiating. Interment will be in Colfax Township Cemetery with a flag presentation by V.F.W. Post No. 1856. The visitation is 4 to 8 p.m. today at the Gunderson Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Merlin is survived by his wife Florence; his children, Colette (Nick) Salmon, Fort Dodge; Sherrie (Dennis) Mandsager, Portsmouth, RI; Rodney (Ellie) Koester, Mason City; Bradley (Colleen) Koester, Duncombe; and Terry (Joe) Neary, Emmetsburg; 12 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and his sister Betty Mickelson, Duncombe. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Donald Koester.

Merlin William Koester, the son of Fred and Muriel (Stephenson) Koester, was born July 1, 1923 in Webster County near Duncombe. He was reared and educated in Cheyenne, Wyoming and graduated from Central High in Cheyenne. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. On April 12, 1945, Merlin was united in marriage to Florence Porter at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Fort Dodge. Following his discharge, Merlin moved to Webster County where he farmed until his retirement in 1987. Merlin was past-president of New Co-op, a long-time member of Farm Bureau and past president of St. Paul Lutheran School PTA. He enjoyed golf, reading and watching westerns. Memorials may be directed to the discretion of the family.

September 10, 2008
Fort Dodge Messenger -- Iowa