Kathryn Koester

Kathryn Koester, 97, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, Feb. 20, 2010, at Ratliff Care Center.

She was born Sept. 17, 1912, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of W.J. and Amanda Wolter Masek. She was married on Sept. 14, 1934, at St. Mary's Cathedral in Cape Girardeau to Andrew Koester. He preceded her in death in 1982.

Koester was a member of St. Mary's Cathedral in Cape Girardeau and the Council of Catholic Women. She was a graduate of DePaul School of Nursing in St. Louis and worked as a nurse at Saint Francis Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

She also worked with her father, a tailor, and at the former International Shoe Co. in Cape Girardeau. She and her husband also owned and operated a poultry farm. Following retirement, Koester was a volunteer at Saint Francis Medical Center and logged more than 5,500 hours in seven years.

She is survived by cousins and friends.

Visitation will be from 9 to 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at Crain Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mary's Cathedral in Cape Girardeau, with the Rev. William Stanton as celebrant.

Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery.

Online condolences can be left at www.crainsonline.com.