Margaret Koester (1900-1974)

The Carroll Daily Times Herald, May 1974

Margaret Koester, 74, of Carroll died at 4:10 a.m. Wednesday, May 15, at the Carroll Health Center.

Mass of the resurrection will be celebrated at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Holy Spirit Church of which she was a member.

Miss Koester, a daughter of William and Christina Wibben Koester, was born at Willey April 7, 1900. Until about three years ago she was housekeeper for the Rev. Msgr. O.W. Koester at Ogden, Sioux Rapids, Mt. Carmel and Milford.

Surviving are a brother, William of Carroll, a sister, Sr. Mary Koester of LaCrosse, Wis.; nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by three brothers, John, Ted, and George; and four sisters, Josephine, Clara. Sr. Silvina and Anna.

Theodore Koester (1893-1956)

The Carroll Daily Times Herald, 1956

Ted Koester Killed In Collision

Victim Was Carroll County's 10th Traffic Fatality

One person was killed and three youths sustained slight injuries in a two-car collision two miles west of Willey at a county road intersection Monday morning.

Theodore (Ted) Koester, 62, of Carroll, died shortly after the accident at St. Anthony hospital of internal injuries, the Sheriff's office reported.

The death brought Carroll county's 1956 traffic toll to 10, which equaled the 1954 record and left the county two under the all time high of 12 recorded a year ago.

The fatal accident happened at about 8:10 a.m., Sheriff Al Thorp said.

Mr. Koester was alone in his car and was driving south. The other vehicle involved was driven by Vernon F. Tigges, 17, of R.1, Carroll and was westbound, the sheriff said.

Passengers in the Tigges car were Ronald J. Wurzer, 17 and Leon Bauer, 17, both of R.1, Carroll.

The Wuraz youth sustained facial contusions and abrasions, the attending physician reported.

The Bauer youth had no clinical injuries.

John Koester (1891-1962)

The Carroll Daily Times Herald, March 1962

JOHN KOESTER, 70, FUNERAL RITES HELD SATURDAY

John Koester, 70, Carroll, died about 6:05 p.m. Wednesday, March 21, at St. Anthony Hospital, Carroll. He had been in failing health for the past year and seriously ill for two weeks.

The Sharp Funeral Home was in charge of funeral arrangements.

Solemn requiem high mass was read at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, March 24, at SS. Peter and Paul Church, Carroll, His son, the Rev. O.W. Koester, Mt. Carmel, was celebrant of the mass. Burial was in St. Joseph Cemetery, Dedham.

Mr. Koester is survived by his wife Clara; five children Fr. Koester, Mt. Carmel; Norbert Koester, Breda; Clarence Koester, Denison; Sr. Mary Remigia ( Florence), St. Bernard Convent, Breda; and Merle Koester, Dallas, Tex.; seven grandchildren; two brothers, William Koester, Carroll, and George Koester, Willey; and three sisters; Clara Koester, Carroll, Margaret Koester, Mt. Carmel, and Sr. M. Fidelma, Stratford, Wis.

George Koester (1895-1967)

The Carroll Daily Times Herald, October 1967

George Koester, 72, of Willey died at 3 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, at St. Anthony Hospital in Carroll, where he had been a patient for two days. He had been in failing health for several years.

Requiem mass will be read at 10 a.m. Saturday in St. Mary's Church at Willey, with interment in the parish cemetery. Mr. Koester's nephew, the Rev. O.W. Koester of Milford, will be celebrant. Military rites will be conducted at the cemetery by DeWitt-Loustenau Post No. 20, American Legion, of Dedham, of which Mr. Koester was a member.

Mr. Koester was born June 10, 1895, at Dedham, a son of William and Christina Koester. He received his education at St. Mary's School, Willey, and lived at home until entering the Army in World War I, serving with the infantry in France. After the war he returned to work in the Willey community until his marriage to Veronica Nagl on April 13, 1926. The ceremony took place in St. Mary's Church at Willey, with the late Rev. A.J. Schemmel officiating.

Following their marriage the couple made their home on a farm two miles north and one and one-half miles east of Dedham, remaining there until 1940. They moved then to another farm one mile north and one-fourth mile west of Willey, and in 1949, returned to their former farm northeast of Dedham. Mrs. Koester died Sept. 22, 1948; and in 1961 Mr. Koester retired from farming and moved into Willey with his two daughters, Teresa and Dolores Koester.

Surviving besides his two daughters are two sons, Louis Koester, Arcadia and Leonard Koester, Dedham; 11 grandchildren; two sister, Margaret Koester, Milford, and Sr. M. Fidelma (Mary) of Roselle; and a brother, William Koester, Carroll.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by two brothers and two sisters.

Clara A. Koester (1898-1967)

The Carroll Daily Times Herald, August 1967

Requiem mass for Clara A. Koester, 69, of 213 North East Street, Carroll, will be read at 9:30 a.m. Thursday in SS. Peter and Paul Church, with interment in Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Miss Koester died about 2:30 a.m., Aug. 7, at St. Anthony Hospital, after being in failing health for five weeks.

Friends may call at the Twit Funeral Home in Carroll after 2:30 p.m. Tuesday. The Legion of Mary will recite the rosary at 3 p.m. Tuesday; and there also will be rosaries Tuesday night at 8 and9. On Wednesday, nuns of the area will recite the rosary at 3 p.m.; the Holy Spirit Women's Guild, at 8 p.m. Another rosary is scheduled for 9 p.m. Wednesday.

Miss Koester was born Apr 30, 1898, at Willey, a daughter of William and Christina Wibben Koester. She attended school at Willey and lived there until moving to Carroll and making her home with a brother, Theodore, until his death in 1956. She had lived at the present home since 1947. She was a member of Holy Spirit parish, the Women's guild and the Legion of Mary.

Surviving are two brothers, George Koester, Willey, and William Koester, Carroll; and two sisters, Margaret Koester, Milford, and Sr. Fidelma (Mary) of Holy Angels convent, Roselle.

She was preceded in death by two brothers and three sisters, John, Theodore, Josephine, Sr. Silvana (Rosina) and Anna.

Sister Mary (Fidelma) Koester FSPA (1906-1984)

The Carroll Daily Times Herald, November 1984

LACROSSE, Wis.- Sister Mary (Fidelma) Koester, F.S.P.A., 78, a native of Willey, Iowa, died Monday, November 26, at Villa St. Joseph in LaCrosse in the 54th year of her religious profession.

Mass of the Christian Burial was celebrated at 9 a.m., at Mary of the Angels Chapel in St. Rose Convent. Burial was in the Catholic cemetery in LaCrosse.

Sister Fidelma is survived by two brothers, George Koester and William Koester, Carroll; nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers: John, George and Theodore and five sisters: Clara, Josephine, Margaret, Anna, Rose, the latter Sister Silvana.

Sister Fidelma was born July 14, 1906, at Willey, a daughter of William and Christina Wibben Koester. She attended St. Mary School in Willey and entered St. Rose Convent in 1929. She served as a homemaker in various convents in Wisconsin and Iowa, including Carroll. She retired to Villa St. Joseph in 1976.

William J. Koester (1908-1995)

The Carroll Daily Times Herald, May 1995

William J. Koester, 87, Carroll died Monday, May 22, 1995 at St. Anthony Nursing Home in Carroll.

Mass of the Christian burial for Mr. Koester will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 24, at Holy Spirit Church in Carroll with Father Richard Remmers officiating.

Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Carroll.

Casket bearers will be David, Ted, Jerry, John and Bill Koester and Bill Goetzinger.

Gift bearers for the Mass will be Kathy Koester and Betty McCaffrey. Lector will be Christy Gute.

Visitation began at 2:30 p.m. today at Twit Funeral Home in Carroll, where a rosary was recited at 3 p.m. A vigil service will be held at 7:30 tonight at the funeral home, followed by a rosary at 8:15 p.m. recited by the Knights of Columbus.

He was born may 10, 1908, at Willey, a son of William and Christina (Wibben) Koester. He attended school in Willey.

On Feb.12, 1949, he married Julitta Brinks at SS. Peter and Paul Church in Carroll. Mr. Koester was a retired farmer. He also operated a filling station and was an employee of the City of Carroll.

He was a member of the Holy Spirit Parish and the Knights of Columbus.

Surviving are his wife Julitta Koester of Carroll, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, John, Ted and George, and six sisters, Josephine, Clara, Anna, Sister Silvina, Margaret and Sister Mary.

Clara Lohman (Mrs. Mike Billmeir, Mrs. John Koester (1910-1990)

The Carroll Daily Times Herald, April 1990

Clara Billmeir Koester, 79, of Dedham, died unexpectedly Saturday, April 14, 1990, upon arrival at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll.

Mass of the Christian burial was celebrated at 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 17, at St. Joseph Church in Dedham. The celebrant was Father Harry McAlpine. Internment was in St. Joseph Cemetery at Dedham. Lector for the mass was Sister Florence Koester; gift bearers were Debbie Mohr and Sheri Dunn.

Casket bearers were Mike Jensen, Ron Mohr, Darian Dunn, Jim Billmeier, Curt Billmeier, and Dave Billmeier.

Koester was born in September 30, 1910, at Coon Rapids, the daughter of Henry and Katherine (Korwes) Lohman. She spent her younger years in the Dedham community and she attended school in Dedham.

On November 23, 1931, she was married to Mike Billmeier at St. Joseph Church in Dedham by Father Christopher Huelshorst. Following their marriage they farmed in the Templeton area for three years and then moved to Dedham. Mr. Billmeier died in June of 1943.

On October 2, 1952, she was married to John Koester at the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City by Father Leo Lenz. Following their marriage the couple continued to make their home in Dedham. Mr. Koester died in 1962. She had been involved in many community activities in Carroll County over the years. She was a member of St. Joseph Parish in Dedham and a member of the Parish Ladies Guild.

Survivors include her children, Henry Billmeier of Dedham, Mary Ann and Her husband, Berry Jensen, of Carroll, Donald Billmeier and his wife, Wanda, of St. Joseph, Iowa, Gerald Billmeier and his wife Lora, of Carroll, and Larry Billmeier of Carroll; a foster son, Larry Schroeder of Carroll, 11 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and a sister, Mary Soppe of Dedham.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands; a granddaughter, Sheryl Billmeier; two brothers, Henry and John Lohman; a sister, Ann Hall; and in-laws, Mrs. and Mrs. Joe Billmeier Sr.

Julitta Brincks (Mrs. William J. Koester) (1911-1999)

The Carroll Daily Times Herald, January 1999

Mass of the Christian burial for Julitta Koester will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, 1999, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Carroll.

Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Carroll.

Mrs. Koester, 87, died Wednesday, Jan. 20, at St. Anthony Nursing Home in Carroll.

Father Peter Duc Nguyen will preside at the services.

Gift bearers at the Mass will be Louis Brincks and Gloria Conway. Lectors will be Betty McCaffrey and Christy Gute.

Casket bearers will be Bill Goetzinger, Richard Brincks, Donald Hoffman, Lawrence Hoffman, Michael Conway and John Hoffman.

Visitation will begin at 2:30 p.m. at Twit Funeral Home in Carroll. Rosary will be recited at 3 p.m. by the Legion of Mary and there will be a vigil service at 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Born March 26, 1911, in Maple River, Iowa, she was a daughter of Joseph and Mollie (Reineke) Brincks. She attended SS. Peter and Paul Catholic School and St. Angela Academy in Carroll.

She married William J. Koester on Feb. 12, 1946, at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Carroll.

She was a bookkeeper at F. W. Woolworth in Carroll.

She was a member of Holy Spirit Parish, the Parish Women's Guild and Legion of Mary.

Mrs. Koester is survived by a brother Louis H. Brincks, of Carroll, tow nephews, Richard Brincks and his wife, Cheryl, of Crystal Lake, Ill., and John Hoffman and his wife Lana, of Council Bluffs; and three nieces, Gloria Conway and her husband, Mike, of Willard, Ohio, Mary Martin and her husband, Bernie, of Winter Park, Fla., and Lorraine Goetzinger and his husband, bill, of Council Bluffs.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, in 1995; a brother, Norbert Brincks; and a sister, Anna Hoffman.

Clarence G. Koester (1919-1991)

The Carroll Daily Times Herald, December 1991

DENISON - Clarence G. Koester, 72, of Denison died Wednesday morning, Dec. 4, 1991, at the Crawford County Memorial Hospital in Denison after suffering an apparent heart attack.

Mass of the Christian burial is 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, 1991, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Denison with the Rev. Andrew W. Hoffman celebrating. Concelebrating are Monsignor O.W. Koester and the Revs. Lloyd W. White, Michael T. Larkin, Gerald Hartz and John Cain.

An honor guard will be by the third and fourth degree Knight of Columbus.

Casket bearers are Bob Hamilton, Dennis Fineran, Neal Ahart, Ned Ahart, Alan Ahart and Jon Ahart.

Burial is in St. Rose of Lima Catholic Cemetery, Denison.

Mr. Koester was born May 24, 1919, at Dedham, a son of John and Emma (Stangl) Koester. He was raised in the Templeton area and received his education at Sacred heart School in Templeton. Following his education and prior to entering the service, he was employed at the Lauridsen Creamery in Dedham.

During Work War II, he served as a corporal in the U.S. Army.

On May 27, 1943, he married Verdella Joens at Los Vegas, Nev. They made their home in Los Vegas before moving to Carroll. The couple lived in Denison since 1953.

Through the years, he was employed at the Lauridsen Creamery, did construction work and for 12 years operated a café in Denison.

Following his retirement in 1979, he became the caretaker at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery.

He was a member of the St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Denison, third and fourth degree Knights of Columbus and the American Legion Post 8 in Denison.

Survivors include his wife, Verdella Koester of Denison; four children: Douglas Koester of Glenwood, Joan and her husband George Davelis of Naperville, Ill., Steve Koester and his wife Jan Bilsten of Cedar Falls, and Carol and her husband, Dr. Pat Burke of Morris, Minn.; six grandchildren; one sister, Sister Florence Koester of LaCrosse, Wis., and two Brother, Monsignor O.W. Koester of Carroll and Norbert Koester of Breda.

He was preceded in death by his parent and two brothers, Cyril and Merle Koester.