Donald Joseph Koester

Donald Joseph Koester

1940 to 2013

Donald Joseph Koester, 72, of Ovid, Colo., passed away Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013, in Castlerock, Colo. A visitation has taken place at Austin-Tennant Funeral Home and a Mass of Christian burial was at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Julesburg with Father Bryan Ernest celebrating. Interment followed at the Ovid Cemetery.

Don was born on Nov. 19, 1940, in Sidney to Henry John Koester and Helen “Nienhuser” Koester. He attended grade school and high school in Peetz, Colo., where he graduated from. After high school Don attended the Cleveland School of Meat Cutting in Toledo, Ohio. His career began working in grocery stores like Decker’s in Sidney and U-Save in Sterling, Colo. He owned a small meat processing plant in Greeley, and after selling to his partner returned to Ovid and built D & L Meat Co. Inc and operated from 1976 to 2011. He ran the business with his wife Linda “Weinbender” Koester who he married on Sept. 26, 1964, and they were married at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Julesburg. They were married for 47 years. Don was a member of the Ovid Lions Club, served on the Ovid Town Council and was also a part of the Elks and Moose Lodge for many years in Ogallala. His life and hobby was his work. He loved what he did and took pride in being honest and producing a superior product of value to his customers. He attended many annual meat conventions where he would enter and compete for the processing of hams, bacon, beef jerky and beef sticks. Don loved to laugh and enjoyed greeting his customers even while busy processing meat. He was known for his one line jokes and enjoyed telling them over a cold beer. He was a simple man that cared sincerely for people and wanted to do what was right. He influenced many young men that worked for him over the years and taught them a valuable work ethic that they all have held onto in the work they do today. He loved playing baseball growing up and in Oct. 17, 1989 was sitting in box seats at Candlestick Park in San Francisco ready to watch the world series when the earthquake hit the city. He and Linda survived and he vowed never to go to California again. Don passed away from complications of dementia.

He is survived by his daugher, Dana Koester-Hicks (Edgar) of Denver; grandson, Jared Koester (Evelyn) Koester of Denver; step-granddaugher, Danielle Hicks of Denver; step-great-grandson Kellin of Denver, brothers, Robert Koester (Bonnie) of Ogallala, Jerry Koester of Scottsbluff, Charles Koester (Jean) of Greeley, Ed Koester (Pam) of Peetz; sister Geraldine Button (Jerry) of Denton, Texas; and many neices and nephews.

He was proceded in death by his wife Linda; parents Henry and Helen; sisters Dorothy Treinen and MaryAnn Cooper’ and brother John.

Memorials may be made to the Donald Koester Memorial Fund c/o Austin-Tennant Funeral Home, PO Box 24, Julesburg, CO 80737.