JEROME ‘JERRY’ MAURICE KOESTER

March 26, 1936–Jan. 21, 2019

Jerome “Jerry” Maurice Koester, 82, was called to his heavenly home on Jan. 21, 2019, at 11:30 p.m. at the Rapid City Regional Hospital, with his son Jerry Wayne Koester and daughter-in-law Annette Koester by his side, with Jerry holding his hand for the entire final part of his journey. His firm belief in God supported him in his struggle and ultimately gave him peace and made his final journey very peaceful.

Jerry was born to the late Henry John Koester and Rose Marie Salber Koester, a farmer and a homemaker respectively, in Sidney, Neb., on March 26, 1936. 

Rose passed away when he was 5 months old. Henry married Helen Minnie Nienhueser on June 30, 1937, and raised Jerry and his siblings with lots of love. He graduated from the St. Patricks Catholic School in Sidney in 1954. 

Jerry married Ann Carol Goetzinger in 1955 and had a daughter, Deanna Lynn. He married Shari Dayle Crouse in 1961 and had three children, Ronda Lee, Peggy Lynn, and Jerry Wayne. He married Garnett (Tudy) Wise in 1978 and acquired three more children to his family, Mike, Margaret and John. 

Jerry worked at Garrett Freight Line in Denver, Colo., for many years; after he retired he started a successful Mountain Man candy and nuts route in the Scottsbluff, Neb., area. After his wife Tudy passed away, his daughter Peggy moved in with him to help financially until she had a brain aneurysm, then he moved to Newcastle, Wyo., to be closer to his son and they had the chance to reform a relationship that had been lost over the years. 

He lived in Newcastle until this past summer when he broke his femur and it became necessary to move him to Spearfish, S.D., to become closer to the dialysis center. He still enjoyed weekly visits from his son Jerry until the time he passed. 

He is dearly missed by his loved ones, who celebrate the fact that he is at peace with his creator. 

Jerry is survived by his daughters, Deanna (Frank) Roberts of Garland, Texas, Ronda (Mark) Jones of Killeen, Texas, and Peggy Koester Wilber of Casper, Wyo.; his son, Jerry (Annette) Koester of Newcastle; his step-daughter, Margaret McClure, and step-son, Mike Kramer; his grandchildren, Charlie (Aisha) Haupt of Mesquite, Texas, Alisha Jones of Killeen, Tosha (Dirk) Dickinson of Douglas, Wyo., Shayna (Nate) Shotwell of Douglas, Lacie Koester of Newcastle, and Danielle McClure of Oak Harbor, Wash.; his great-grandchildren, Avery Haupt of Mesquite, KaeLynn, Darius, Davion, Dracen and KazLiegh Dickinson of Douglas, and Gary McClure of Oak Harbor. He is also survived by his brothers, Bob (Bonnie) Koester of Ogallala, Neb., Chuck(Jean) Koester of Greeley, Colo., Ed (Pam) Koester of Peetz, Colo.; and his sister, Geraldine(Jerry) Button of Denton, Texas. 

He is preceded in death by his parents, Henry Koester, Rose Koester and Helen Koester; his wives, Ann Goetzinger-Hegarty, Shari Bartnik and Tudy Koester; his brothers, Don (Linda) Koester, and John Koester; his sisters, Dorothy (Matt) Treinen, and MaryAnn (Joe Beeman) Cooper; as well as his step-son, John Kramer.

Jerry was cremated as he wished to be. There will be a Celebration of Life service in Sidney at the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel at 10 a.m., on Saturday, Feb 23. 

Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery in Sidney following the service.