Ira Koester

Ira Jacob Koester was born in Neosho Falls, Kansas on January 2, 1916 and passed away on August 26, 2008 in Chico, California. Ira had his schooling in Kansas, but at an early age made the decision to leave the family farm and head west to California. As these were depression years, he said it was difficult to find work, so on his way west he would take "whatever work there was for whatever it would pay." He proudly served in the U.S. Navy aboard the U.S.S. MacKenzie during WWII. On May 2, 1953, he married Mildred R. Carpenter in Reno, Nevada. Ira spent most of his career with the U.S. Postal Service, retiring in 1972. He was a long-time member of the Chico-Leland Stanford Masonic Lodge #111 receiving his 50 year membership pin & plaque in 2007. He had many interests. Among them were: deer & bird hunting, competitive trapshooting, gold mining, coin and stamp collecting and raising exotic pheasants. He and his wife spent many summers fishing at their favorite place - the ocean near Trinidad, California. Ira can best be defined by his sense of humor. He liked to joke with everyone and once told me that a day that went by that he couldn't make at least one person smile, wasn't much of a day! He is survived by his sisters Leona Gill of Klamath Falls, Oregon and Berth Ann Parks of Gardnerville, Nevada and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Mildred, his parents, brothers Bob, George and Archie, and a sister Lula. The family would like to give special thanks to the capable and very caring staff at Townsend House Assisted Living where he has resided the past seven years. No service is planned. His ashes will be scattered at sea near Trinidad. Brusie Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.