Norman Neil Koser, Jr., 70

Norman Neil Koser, Jr., 70

Our Lord surprised us and took Norman Neil Koser Jr., 70, of Hayden, Idaho, to be with Him on Aug. 13, 2018, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. He fought so hard against his cancer and the complications of it. He always felt that he had to do his part in this battle and kept positive and smiling to the end.

He was not afraid of leaving us because he knew where he was going and said rather that his tears were for the rest of us who had to watch him go through this.

Norm was born Sept. 10, 1947, in Boise, Idaho, and was the last of seven children to Norman and Katherine (Simpkins) Koser. With his large extended family there he was known by Neil.

Norm was completely happy and at ease in the mountains. He was the sort of person that you wanted to be with if you ever had to survive out there.

He met his best friend Jon Turner in high school, and they remained close brothers their entire lifetime, having many great adventures together that made for wonderful stories that never seemed to end.

Some of his fondest memories were of his hunting trips with family/friends that he considered brothers: Jon, Randy Beard, John Bonner and family, Mark Hinkley, Tony Allan, and Michael O’Donnell. The last few years it was less about hunting and more about enjoying each other. They called it armed camping.

In the end, it was his heart that gave out but it was that heart that just seemed to draw people to him or possibly his quirky personality. Although he never realized, it was his biggest accomplishment in life. He seemed to have touched so very many people in very different ways. A friend said of him that he was so special because he didn’t know he was special.

One of his last events that he cherished was his baptism just a week prior to his passing. His body was weak and tired, but his friends and church family at Hayden Bible Church loved him through it and helped make it the most memorable day.

He was preceded in death by his mother Katherine (Simpkins) Koser, father Norman Koser, brothers Jim Koser, Bobby Koser, sisters Connie Rieten (Robert) and Georgia Rybar (Dave).

He left behind his wife Sharon; daughters Tammy Koser-Loosli (Scott), Katrina Whitten, Jennifer Collins (LeRoy); granddaughters Dawn Koser, Kaytlyn Whitten and Heather Collins; sisters Sharon Beard (Randy), Pat Torres (Rudy); sister-in-law Connie Koser; great-grandson Loukas Williams; and he had a special place in his heart for Tammy and Katrina’s mother, Marlene Alverson.

He had many nieces and nephews/great-nieces and nephews including John, Tom, Chris, Todd, Dave, Kelly, Ricky, Tony, Pam, Jerri, Lisa, Cindy, Tammy, Pam, Tina, Brandi, Shane, Justin and Alysha plus so many more.

The service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018 at Yates Funeral Home, 744 N. Fourth St., Coeur d’Alene. A remembrance will also be held in Boise at a later date.

Yates Funeral Homes has been entrusted with the care of arrangements. Please visit Norm’s memorial and sign his online guestbook www.yatesfuneralhomes.com