Daniel W. Koester

Daniel W. "Boots" Koester, age 43, of Elizabeth, Illinois, died on Thursday, July 2, 2009 at his home. A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at the Trinity Lutheran Church, Derinda, with Reverend David Vidler officiating. Burial will take place in the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery. A Visitation will be held from 4:00-8:00 p.m. on Monday, July 6, 2009 at the Law-Jones Funeral Home, Elizabeth. A Memorial Fund has been established in Dan’s memory.Dan was born on January 13, 1966, the son of DeLoss E. and Joan C. (Kelly) Koester, in Hazel Green, Wisconsin. Dan attended Scales Mound High School, graduating with the Class of 1984. He later attended Northeast Iowa Community College, graduating in 1986 with a degree in Agricultural Mechanics. Dan married Karen D. Schnitzler on October 29, 1994 at the Trinity Lutheran Church, Derinda. Dan owned and operated Boots Ag Repair in Elizabeth for eighteen years. He was a member of Shepherd of the Hills Church in Schapville, Illinois and the Trinity Lutheran Church in Derinda. Dan was a proud supporter of the 4-H program, and was also a judge for 4-H fairs. He was a director of the Jo-Daviess County Farm Bureau Board, and was a member of the Dairyland Antique Tractor Pulling Club. He also served on the Elizabeth Fair Board. Dan enjoyed tractor pulling, farming, cattle, and helping out friends and neighbors. He also enjoyed maintaining the track at the Elizabeth Fairgrounds for the truck and tractor pulls. Most of all, Dan cherished the time he spent with his wife and children. Dan is survived by his wife, Karen; two children, Kelley and Devin of Elizabeth; mother, Joan (Alex) Michaud of Las Crucas, New Mexico; two sisters, Debora (David) Hilby of Cuba City, Wisconsin and Patricia (Patrick) Reser of Phoenix, Arizona; two brothers, Richard (Donna) Koester of Aurora, Iowa and Jeffrey (Sheila) Koester of Scales Mound, Illinois; father and mother-in-law, Marvin and Elizabeth Schnitzler of Elizabeth, Illinois; three sisters-in-law, Leisa (Larry) Hubb of Stockton, Illinois, Sheila (Brandon) Alexander of Chadwick, Illinois and Marla (John) Todd of Tipton, Iowa; one brother-in-law, Roger (Sandra) Schnitzler of Manteno, Illinois; and several nieces and nephews. Dan is preceded in death by his father, DeLoss Koester; infant daughter, Karla Koester; paternal grandparents, Clyde and Ada Koester; and maternal grandparents, William Kelly and Lois (Kelly) Reed.