Obituary for Jerome M. "Jerry" Koester
Jerome (Jerry) Maurice Koester
Jerome (Jerry) Maurice Koester, 82, was called to his heavenly home on January 21, 2019 at 11:30 P.M. at Rapid City Regional Hospital with his son Jerry Wayne Koester and daughter in law Annette Koester by his side with Jerry holding his hand for the entire final part of his journey. His firm belief in God supported him in his struggle and ultimately gave him peace and made his final journey very peaceful.
Jerry was cremated as he wished to be. There will be a celebration of life service in Sidney, NE at the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, February 23rd with Pastor Lee Eads officiating. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Sidney. Friends may stop at Gehrig-Stitt Chapel on Friday, February 22nd from 1-7:00 P.M. Memorial contributions may be made in care of the family, 5085 Hwy 16, Newcastle, WY 82701. You may view Jerry’s Book of Memories, leave condolences, photos and stories at www.gehrigstittchapel.com.
Gehrig-Stitt Chapel & Cremation Service, LLC is in charge of Jerry’s care and funeral arrangements.
Jerry was born to the late Henry John Koester and Rose Marie Salber Koester, a farmer and a homemaker respectively, in Sidney, NE on March 26, 1936. Rose passed away when he was 5 months old. Henry married Helen Minnie Nienhueser on June 30, 1937 and raised Jerry and his siblings with lots of love. He graduated from the St. Patrick’s Catholic School in Sidney, NE in 1954.
Jerry married Ann Carol Goetzinger in 1955 and had a daughter Deanna Lynn. He married Shari Dayle Crouse in 1961 and had 3 children. Ronda Lee, Peggy Lynn and Jerry Wayne. He married Garnett (Tudy) Wise in 1978 and acquired 3 more children to his family, Mike, Margaret and John. Jerry worked at Garrett Freight line in Denver, CO for many years, after he retired he started a successful Mountain Man candy and nuts route in the Scottsbluff Ne area. After his wife Tudy passed away, his daughter Peggy moved in with him to help financially until she had a brain aneurysm, then he moved to Newcastle, WY to be closer to his son and they had the chance to reform a relationship that had been lost over the years. He lived in Newcastle until this past summer when he broke his femur and it became necessary to move him to Spearfish, SD to become closer to the Dialysis center. He still enjoyed weekly visits from his son Jerry until the time he passed.
He is dearly missed by his loved ones, who celebrate the fact that he is at peace with his creator.
Jerry is survived by his daughters Deanna (Frank) Roberts of Garland, TX, Ronda (Mark) Jones of Killeen, TX and Peggy Koester Wilber of Casper, WY, his son Jerry (Annette) Koester of Newcastle, WY , his stepdaughter Margaret McClure and stepson Mike Kramer, his grandchildren Charlie (Aisha) Haupt of Mesquite, TX , Alisha Jones of Killeen, TX, Tosha (Dirk) Dickinson of Douglas, WY, Shayna (Nate) Shotwell of Douglas, WY, Lacie Koester of Newcastle, WY and Danielle McClure of Oak Harbor, WA.; his great grandchildren Avery Haupt of Mesquite, TX, KaeLynn, Darius, Davion, Dracen and KazLiegh Dickinson of Douglas, WY and Gary McClure of Oak Harbor, WA. His brothers Bob (Bonnie) Koester of Ogallala, NE, Chuck (Jean) Koester of Greeley, CO, Ed (Pam) Koester of Peetz, CO, and sister Geraldine (Jerry) Button of Denton, TX.
He was preceded in death by his parents Henry Koester, Rose Koester and Helen Koester. His wives, Ann Goetzinger-Hegarty, Shari Bartnik and Tudy Koester, his brothers Don (Linda) Koester, and John Koester. His sisters, Dorothy (Matt) Treinen, MaryAnn (Joe) Beeman and his stepson John Kramer.
Jerome (Jerry) Maurice Koester, 82, was called to his heavenly home on January 21, 2019 at 11:30 P.M. at Rapid City Regional Hospital with his son Jerry Wayne Koester and daughter in law Annette Koester by his side with Jerry holding his hand for the entire final part of his journey. His firm belief in God supported him in his struggle and ultimately gave him peace and made his final journey very peaceful.
Jerry was cremated as he wished to be. There will be a celebration of life service in Sidney, NE at the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, February 23rd with Pastor Lee Eads officiating. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Sidney. Friends may stop at Gehrig-Stitt Chapel on Friday, February 22nd from 1-7:00 P.M. Memorial contributions may be made in care of the family, 5085 Hwy 16, Newcastle, WY 82701. You may view Jerry’s Book of Memories, leave condolences, photos and stories at www.gehrigstittchapel.com.
Gehrig-Stitt Chapel & Cremation Service, LLC is in charge of Jerry’s care and funeral arrangements.
Jerry was born to the late Henry John Koester and Rose Marie Salber Koester, a farmer and a homemaker respectively, in Sidney, NE on March 26, 1936. Rose passed away when he was 5 months old. Henry married Helen Minnie Nienhueser on June 30, 1937 and raised Jerry and his siblings with lots of love. He graduated from the St. Patrick’s Catholic School in Sidney, NE in 1954.
Jerry married Ann Carol Goetzinger in 1955 and had a daughter Deanna Lynn. He married Shari Dayle Crouse in 1961 and had 3 children. Ronda Lee, Peggy Lynn and Jerry Wayne. He married Garnett (Tudy) Wise in 1978 and acquired 3 more children to his family, Mike, Margaret and John. Jerry worked at Garrett Freight line in Denver, CO for many years, after he retired he started a successful Mountain Man candy and nuts route in the Scottsbluff Ne area. After his wife Tudy passed away, his daughter Peggy moved in with him to help financially until she had a brain aneurysm, then he moved to Newcastle, WY to be closer to his son and they had the chance to reform a relationship that had been lost over the years. He lived in Newcastle until this past summer when he broke his femur and it became necessary to move him to Spearfish, SD to become closer to the Dialysis center. He still enjoyed weekly visits from his son Jerry until the time he passed.
He is dearly missed by his loved ones, who celebrate the fact that he is at peace with his creator.
Jerry is survived by his daughters Deanna (Frank) Roberts of Garland, TX, Ronda (Mark) Jones of Killeen, TX and Peggy Koester Wilber of Casper, WY, his son Jerry (Annette) Koester of Newcastle, WY , his stepdaughter Margaret McClure and stepson Mike Kramer, his grandchildren Charlie (Aisha) Haupt of Mesquite, TX , Alisha Jones of Killeen, TX, Tosha (Dirk) Dickinson of Douglas, WY, Shayna (Nate) Shotwell of Douglas, WY, Lacie Koester of Newcastle, WY and Danielle McClure of Oak Harbor, WA.; his great grandchildren Avery Haupt of Mesquite, TX, KaeLynn, Darius, Davion, Dracen and KazLiegh Dickinson of Douglas, WY and Gary McClure of Oak Harbor, WA. His brothers Bob (Bonnie) Koester of Ogallala, NE, Chuck (Jean) Koester of Greeley, CO, Ed (Pam) Koester of Peetz, CO, and sister Geraldine (Jerry) Button of Denton, TX.
He was preceded in death by his parents Henry Koester, Rose Koester and Helen Koester. His wives, Ann Goetzinger-Hegarty, Shari Bartnik and Tudy Koester, his brothers Don (Linda) Koester, and John Koester. His sisters, Dorothy (Matt) Treinen, MaryAnn (Joe) Beeman and his stepson John Kramer.