O B I T U A R I E S For Whiteside County Illinois
CARL KALKWARF
, 86, of Arlington Hts., died Monday, March 1, 2004 at Mooring Health Care Center, Arlington Hts.,
The Rev. Kalkwarf was born Feb. 5, 1918, in Flanagan. A graduate of Wartburg College, he received his master's in divinity degree from Wartburg College, Dubuque Iowa. He was ordained in 1942 and served at First Lutheran Church, Ohio, from 1942 to 1947; from 1947 to 1962 he served at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Sterling; from 1962 to 1968 he started Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, a mission church in Champagne; from 1968 to 1971 he served at Bethel Lutheran Church, Bartonville, from 1971 to 1983 he served at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, a mission church in Schaumburg; and from 1983 to 1994 he served at St. Mark Lutheran Church, Mt. Prospect, as their evangelism pastor. He retired in 1994.
He was the husband of Faythe nee Brooks; father of Betty (Gerald) Bldner, Karen (Rick) Vilonen and Jonathan (Rhonda) Kalkwarf; grandfather of Benjamin (Amy) and Bethany Kalkwarf, Alsia and Benjamin Violonen, Tami (Jeff) Nabor, Jodie (Craig) Lynn and Jason (Lyzi) and Leslie Baldner, Great-grandfather of Sierra and Preston Lyon, Natalie Nabor, Lyvia, Brooke and Alicia Baldner. He also was the brother of the late Henry Kalkwarf, the late Orvil Kalkwarf and the late Esther Vissering.
Visitation will be Wednesday March 3, 2004 at Meadows Funeral Home, 3615 Kirchoff Rd. Rolling Meadows. Memorial service will be Thursday March 4, 2004 at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 200S Wille, Mt. Prospect. Second service and internment will be Friday March 5, 2004 at St. Petri Lutheran Church, Flanagan. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the St. Mark Lutheran Church, Mt. Prospect, or the Rainbow Network in care of the Kalkwarf family.
JOHN KIRKSEY
, 35, of Rt. 1, Rock Falls, father of five children, died at 7 p.m. at Community General Hospital where he had been a patient the past six days. The body was removed to the Wheelock Funeral Home in Rock Falls and will be removed today to the Farmer's Union Funeral Home in Jonesboro, Ark. Funeral rites will be held in Jonesboro Thursday. Burial will be in Bishop Cemetery, Oak Grove, Ark.
Johnie Bob Kirksey was born Oct. 11, 1920 in Jonesboro, the son of Roland and Betty Kirksey. He was employed at the Northwestern Steel and Wire Co., Sterling. He was a member of the Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church.
Surviving are his widow, Rosie; a son David, four daughters, Dorothy, Norma, Brend and Linda, all at home; his mother, Mrs Betty Truitt and stepfather, Marvin Truitt, both of Jonesboro; and four brothers, Albia Kirksey of Rock Falls, and Virgil, Wesley and Cecil of Jonesboro.
E.R. KLOSS
- Tuesday afternoon at 1:30 funeral services were held at the Melvin Funeral Home for E. R. Kloss, 1300 7th Ave., Rock Falls, who died suddenly Sunday morning. Rev. Robert H. Sharp officiated, and burial was in the Odd Fellows Cemetery in Rock Falls. During the service at the funeral home, Mrs. J. H. Linn played the organ and Gerald Pontaler sang, "This World Is Not My Home" and "Beyond the Sunset." Pallbearers were Edward Fisher, Ray W. Wallin, Paul Gowan, John Knapp Jr., George Hadley, and Dewey Gowan. Flowers were cared for by Mrs. Gordon McKee.
ALVERA (GANTZERT) KOSTER
, 87, of Sterling died Friday, July 11, 2008 at Pinecerest Manor, Mt. Morris. Mrs. Koster was born March 25, 1921 in Moccasin MT, the daughter of Paul and Lena (Heinrich) Gantzert. She married Elmer Koster on May 22, 1943 in Tallahassee, FL. She was educated in local schools and a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church. She was employed at Sears and Walgreen's and was a farm housewife for most of her married life. She served as a Red Cross Volunteer nurse aid during WW II and later was a pink lady with CGH Auxiliary. Survivors include her husband of 65 years; daughters, Susan (Axel) Granerd of Durham NC, Linda Koster of Largo FL and Sally (Bill) Clemens of Roscoe; sons, Norman (Ann) Koster of Dixon and David Koster of Polo; 13 grandchildren, Tracy (Kevin) Pogue, Michael (Karen) Peugh, Matthew Clemens, Gregory (Katy) Clemens, Elizabeth (fiance Chris Karalis) Clemens; Benjamin Koster, Mary (fiance Kris Haak) Koster and Diane, Mark, Peter, Karen, Michael and Emily Koster; and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded by her parents, two brothers and two sisters. A celebration of her life will take place at 1 pm Wednesday, July 16, 2008 in the social hall of St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1701 16th Ave. Sterling. There will be no visitation. Arrangements were completed by McDonald Funeral Home and Crematory. In lieu of flowers, memorial in her memory to Lutheran World Hunger Relief would be appreciated.
ARTHUR H. KOSTER
, 83, of Sterling died Saturday June 5, 2004, at CGH Medical Center in Sterling. He farmed West of Sterling for many years, and was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Sterling. Mr. Koster was born December 30, 1920 in Sterling, the son of Herbert and Anna (Wessels) Koster. He married Dorothy Sloot on March 2, 1956 in Morrison. He enjoyed farming. Survivors include his wife Dorothy, two sons Steve (Donna) of Sterling; Roger (Linda) of Decatur; one daughter Christine (Jay) Severson of Rochester MN; one sister Helen VonHolten of Toulon and five grandchildren. Preceeding him in death one brother in infancy, and a stepmother Frieda Koster. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Paul Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Philip Gronbach officiating. Burial is at Oak Knoll Memorial Park. Visitation will be Tuesday from 6-8 Schilling Funeral Home.
DEVA DEE KOSTER
,55, of Peoria, died December 26, 2003 at Coventry Village. She was employed as a Psychiatric RN at Zeller Healthcare in Peoria. Deva Koster was born Nov. 10, 1948 in Sterling the daughter of Walter and Freda (Martin) Koster. She married Robert Loh on Jan. 3, 2003 in Peoria. Survivors also include her mother, Freda; one sister, Marna Koster of Denver CO; one brother Brian Koster of St. Paul MN; one niece, Sarah Koster of Los Angeles; and one nephew Kyle Koster of Denver. Services will be Monday, Dec. 29, 2003 at Schilling Funeral Home, Sterling with the Rev. Steve Wiota, officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery.
FRIEDA (HABERER) KOSTER
, was born July 2, 1908 in Rotenberg Germany to Jakob and Anna (Schumacker) Haberer. She was baptized into Christ on July 19, 1908, at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Rotenberg and was confirmed there April 2, 1922. She married Herbert Koster Sept. 15, 1934 in Sterling. He preceded her on Feb. 27, 1971. She departed this life in the sign of the faith on Mar. 9, 2002, at the age of 93 years at Resthave Nursing Home, Morrison IL.
Frieda was educated in the public schools in Rotemberg and emigrated to the US on Feb. 17, 1925. She was engaged in farming with her husband from 1934 to 1956. She was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church and was actively involved in the women's circles of the church.
Her survivors include one step-daughter, Helen VonHolten of Rock Falls, one stepson, Arthur (Dorothy) Koster of Sterling, six step-grandchildren and eleven step-great grandchildren. She was preceded by three brothers, George, Johannes and Christian Haberer.
MARTHA (WESSELS) KOSTER
, 76, 402 W. Miller Road, Sterling, died at 5 p.m. Wednesday in Community General Hospital after an extended illness. There is visitation today from 2 - 9 p.m. in the Behrens Morturary. Funeral rites will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in St. Paul Lutheran Church with the Rev. Warren Weeg officiating. The burial will be in Oak Knoll Memorial Park.
Martha Wessels was born May 9, 1896 in Genesee, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Wessels. She attended the LaFayette School and was married Sept. 7, 1924 to Theodore Koster. Mrs. Koster was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church and the Ladies Aid.
Surviving with her husband and three sons, Russell Koster, rural Sterling, Merrill Koster of Silverdale, Wash., and Wesley Koster, rural Sterling. She also leaves two sisters, Mrs. E. H. (Jennie) Appel of Mt. Morris, and Mrs. Arthur (Erma) Folkers of Rock Falls, and four grandchildren. Two sisters and three brothers preceded her in death. A memorial has been established for Green Wing Bible Camp.
WESLEY KOSTER
, 70, of, Sterling died Monday, Nov, 22, 2004, at his home. He farmed in Jordan Township and also worked with Dirks Auction Service for many years. Mr. Koster was born Dec. 28, 1933 in Sterling, the son of Theodore and Martha (Wessels) Koster. He attended the University of Illinois and served in the Army. He married Jean Hinrichs on Nov. 1, 1985, in Sterling. He was a lifetime member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church and a member of Kiwanis, both in Sterling. He was an avid hunter/fisherman and enjoyed playing Santa Claus.
Survivors indude his wife; a stepÂdaughter, Beth (Jim) Jordan of Orlando, Fla.; three stepsons, Robert (Lisa) Bruns of Orlando, Fla., Timothy (Dee) Bruns of Monticello, Wis., and David (Shannon) Bruns of Waunakee, Wis.; two brothers RusseH (Margaret Ann) Koster and Merrill (Betty) Koster of Silverdale, Wash.; five stepgrandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. The funeral service is at 10:30 a,m. Wednesday at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Sterling, with the Reverend Philip Gronbach, pastor, officiating. Burial is at Oak Knoll Memorial Park Sterling.
ARTHUR WALTER KUNDE
, 84, of 291 Ill. Rt. 2, Dixon, died Saturday at KSB Hospital, Dixon. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Preston-Schilling Funeral Home, with Rev. Robert A. Leiste, pastor of Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church, officiating. Burial will be in
IOOF Cemetery in Rock Falls, with visitation from noon to 9 p.m. Monday at the funeral home, the family present from 7-9 p.m. A memorial has been established to the Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church.
Mr. Kunde was born Feb. 28, 1904 in Whiteside County, the son of Fred and Amelia Plautz Kunde. He married Viola Leesman in 1932. She died in 1936. He then married Leota H. Howe Heaton, Jan. 28, 1938 in Clinton, Iowa. He was employed at the Dixon Water Works Department for eight years, prior to retiring in 1969. He was a member of the Christ Savior Lutheran Church and Rock River Grange.
He is survived by his wife; two sons, Marvin, Oregon, and Butch, Dixon; two daughters, Mrs. Phil (Doris) Pierce, Amoka, Minn., and Mrs. Mike (Marcia) Vaskie, McNabb; one sister, Mrs. Ethel Wolf, Walnut; 11 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two sons, five brothers and five sisters.
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