Ilse Koester, 84

Ilse Koester was born on Sept. 13, 1925, in Hamburg, Germany.

She died unexpectedly at her home in Hayden. She is survived by her husband, Werner, two children and six grandchildren.

In 1952, she immigrated to the United States and lived with an aunt in Trenton, N.J. She attended Ryder College and specialized in Office Administration. She married Werner Koester on Dec. 26, 1954, in Watertown, Wisc.

In 1963, they moved to Hong Kong, where they spent five years. After a short stay back in the U.S., they moved to the Netherlands and were there for three years. Overseas travel for business ended with retirement in Southern California and an eventual move to Idaho in 1993.

Ilse had many hobbies that contributed to a full life. She was active in gardening, golf, quilting and traveling. Several charities were very special to her and she was generous in her contributions, especially to disabled veterans.

She was a regular member of the 9 hole ladies golf league at Avondale. Her many friends considered her to be sweet, kind considerate and caring. She was faithful to childhood friends and family in Europe and kept in regular contact with them. Her thoughtfulness will always be remembered.

Ilse left us too soon, but we are all grateful for the 84 years she spent touching the lives of so many people.

The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, April 23, 2010, at English Funeral Chapel, 1133 N. Fourth St., Coeur d’Alene. Burial will be at the Riverview Cemetery in Coeur d’Alene. 

Please sign Ilse’s guest registry and view her online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.