Othmar W. Koester 1914-1995
Rev. Msgr. Othmar W. Koester
The Carroll Times Herald, September 1995
The
Reverend Monsignor Othmar W. Koester, age 81, of Carroll, died early
Thursday, September 14, 1995, at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in
Carroll.
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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