(Rock Island Argus  Thursday, 6 April 2000)

Gary Koester

Gary L. Koester, 52, Milan, died Wednesday, April 5, 2000, at Trinity Medical Center, West Campus, Rock Island.

Services are 1 p.m. Friday at Hodgson Funeral Home Ltd., Rock Island, Rev. Ivan Fuller officiating.  Burial is in National Cemetery, Rock Island, with military rites conducted by Milan Legion/VFW.  Visitation is 3 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home, with Masonic Services by Doric Lodge, Moline, at 7 p.m.  Memorials may be made to American Cancer Society or a favorite charity.

He was born Jan. 25, 1948, in Rock Island, the son of August Koester and Gertrude Emerick Koester.  He married Sharon Davis Dec. 6, 1969, in Rock Island.

He graduated from Rock Island High School.

He was a machine oiler at the Rock Island Arsenal.

He was an Army Sp 5 Vietnam veteran.  He was stationed in Germany.

He was a member of Memorial Christian Church; 32nd degree Mason, Doric Lodge, Moline; Scottish Rite, Valley of Moline; and worked part time for J and M Fireworks Displays.

He enjoyed reading and watching television.

Survivors include his wife, Sharon; daughter and her fiance, Sarah Koester and Connor Kirgan, Normal, Ill.; son, Timothy Koester, Rock Island; sisters (and spouses), Johanna (Tom) Boetger, Walcott, Iowa, Raelene (David) Snyder, Chattanooga, Tenn., Karen (Richard) Anderson, Springfield, Ohio; brothers (and spouses), his twin, Gerald (Gail) Koester, Calamus, Iowa, Ted Koester, Wilmington, Ohio, Ray (Joann) Koester, Manhattan Beach, Calif.; sisters-in-law (and spouses), Rebecca (Mike) Phillips, Covington, Ga., Jeanette (John) Tornquist, Bloomington, Ill., Karen (Ted) Arkebauer, Orion; and several nieces and nephews.

(© 2000 R I Argus)