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Othmar W. Koester 1914-1995 The Carroll Times Herald, September 1995
Mass of the Christian Burial was celebrated at 11 a.m., Monday, September 18, 1995, at Holy Spirit Church in Carroll. The Main Celebrant was Bishop Lawrence D. Soens. Homilist was Father Victor Ramaeker. Interment was in St. Joseph Cemetery at Dedham, Iowa. The lectors for the Mass were Robert S. Bruner and Dr. L. B. Westendorf. Gift bearers were Sister Florence Koester and Verdella Koester. Mass servers were Adrian Koester, Ryan Reiff, and Nick Pudenz. Casket bearers were Ray Collins, Ed Holden, Ron Loeffler, Don Wiederin, Paul Murrane, and Wilbur Neumayer. Visitation began at 3 p.m. Sunday at Holy Spirit Church in Carroll. Rosaries were recited at 4 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, with the latter by the Knights of Columbus. There was a Christian wake service at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the Church. The Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus formed an honor guard at the Church on Sunday evening and again on Monday for the funeral mass. Memorial may be left for the Father Kuemper Society, a recently established tuition assistance fund for Kuemper High School students. Monsignor Koester is survived by a sister, Sister Florence Koester, F.S.P.A., of LaCrosse, Wisconsin and sisters-in-law Georgia Bruce Koester, of Dallas, Texas and Verdella Koester, Denison, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; and four brothers, Cyril, Clarence, Merle and Norbert Koester. Monsignor Koester was born on June 17, 1914, at Dedham, Iowa, the son of John and Emma (Stangl) Koester. Her received his formal education at St. Joseph Elementary School in Dedham and High School in Templeton, Trinity College in Sioux City and received his Theology Degree at St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was ordained to the Priesthood on May 22, 1941, at the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City, Iowa, by Bishop Edmond Heelan. His first assignment was as assistant pastor at the former St. Peter and Paul Parish in Carroll. He then served as pastor at St. John Parish, Ogden (1950-1953), St. Joseph Parish, Sioux Rapids (1953-1954), Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, Mt. Carmel (1954-1967), St. Joseph Parish, Milford (1967-1974), St. Mary Parish, Dow City, (June to November, 1974). His final assignment was to St. Paul Parish, Scranton, (1974-1989). He retired in July of 1989. He was designated a Domestic Prelate in 1972, and served as a Diocesan Consultor and Vicar of Religious. Upon his retirement he moved to the Orchard View retirement Complex in Carroll and served the daily Mass and spiritual needs of the residents at Orchard View. He was a member of Holy Spirit Parish, and Third and Fourth Degree member of the Carroll Knights of Columbus. He was a former Chaplain of the Third Degree Knights of Columbus and currently served the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus as its Faithful Friar.
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