La Verne Koester

LaVerne Koester

 

Our beloved mother, LaVerne June Koester, went home to heaven to be with God on July 15, 2021, after a courageous battle with cancer.

LaVerne was born July 8, 1934, in Waukon, Iowa, to August and Martha Snitker. She was the youngest of eight children. LaVerne lived on the farm with her parents and siblings. She graduated from high school and went on to work in Cedar Rapids as a secretary for 3 years. 

She met her husband Donald at Matter’s at the Ballroom in Decorah, Iowa, and they were married August 19, 1956. LaVerne dedicated her life to being on the farm with Donald and their four children: Connie, Larry, Cheryl and Brad.

When the children were grown, she also worked at Gundersen Palmer Hospital in the dietary department where she made many friends and enjoyed the people she worked with very much.

LaVerne was a wonderful cook. She also liked baking sweets and trying new recipes. The holidays were always special and she baked for days to make sure we had plenty. Mom loved music (especially country) and attended “Country on The River” a couple of years and concerts in the bandstand uptown and the fair, which she really enjoyed.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years Donald; parents August and Martha; brother Ralph; sisters Florence, Inez, Lorraine, Norma  and Mildred; brother-in-law Harlan and sister-in-law Ruby Miller. 

LaVerne is survived by her daughter Connie (Jay) Haas, son Larry, daughter Cheryl (special friend Matt), and Brad (special friend Cherie); grandchildren Jamie (Lindsey) Haas, Nicole (Karim) Bakri, Brady and Zachary Koester and 5 great grandchildren: Oliver, Maxwell and Isabel Bakri; Sienna and Sawyer Haas; sister Ruby Koenig; brother-in-law Bill and sister-in-law Nadine.

LaVerne’s wishes were to be cremated. Pastor Ginny Olson held her funeral at St. Peter Lutheran in Eldorado, July 23, 2021 at 2 p.m.. Burial was in the church cemetery. 30p30

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