Lois A. (Schnor) Koester, 63, of Sumner, died Saturday, February 1, 2014, at her home in Sumner.
Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, February 7, 2014, at Nazareth Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cedar Falls with Rev. Dennis Hanson officiating. Interment will be at 2:30 p.m., Friday at St. John Lutheran Cemetery in Sumner. Friends may call from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, February 6th at Becker-Milnes Funeral Home in Sumner and for one hour preceding services at the church on Friday. Memorials may be given in her name to the American Cancer Society or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
Lois Ann, daughter of Claire and Velma Nicklaus Schnor, was born March 20, 1950, at Community Memorial Hospital in Sumner, Iowa. She was baptized in April of 1950, at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Richfield by Rev. Diemer and confirmed March 22, 1964, at St. John Lutheran Church in Sumner by Rev. John Mohr. She graduated from West Central High School in Maynard in May of 1968. On November 20, 1970, she was united in marriage with Stanley Dean Koester at St. John Lutheran Church in Sumner by Rev. Kurtz. Lois had worked at Sinclair/First Miss at Randalia and as secretary at St. John Lutheran Church in Sumner for thirty- two years prior to retiring in November of 2011. She taught Sunday school, confirmation and vacation bible school at St. John, and also had served on the hospital board, hospital auxiliary, hospital marathon, American Legion auxiliary, and Jaycettes. Lois loved spending time with family and friends, playing with the grandchildren, riding motorcycle with Stan, traveling, and playing cards and dominos with friends.
In addition to her husband, Stan of Sumner, Lois is survived by her children, Dean (Sara) Koester of Sumner and Angela (Marc) Rath of Cedar Falls; her grandchildren, Keeley Rath, Emma Koester, Teeghen Rath, Aiden Koester, and Claire Koester, all at home; her adopted grandson, Levi Miller of Sumner; her father, Claire Schnor and his wife, Carol of Oelwein; two sisters, Lisa (Bob) Guttormson of Calmar and Tonya Schnor of Cedar Rapids; and uncles, aunts, and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Velma Schnor, and grandparents, Ervin and Velma Schnor and Andrew and Melinda Nicklaus.
