Beverly J. Koester (79) of Effingham

Funeral services will be held at 11 am Wednesday, November 16, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Effingham with burial in Arborcrest Memorial Park. Visitation will be held from 4-7 pm Tuesday at Bauer Funeral Home in Effingham and for one hour prior to service, Wednesday at the church. Memorial donations may be given to the American Diabetes Association, the American Heart Association, or the charity of the donor’s choice. 

Beverly was born June 9, 1943 in Effingham, the daughter of Albert and Caroline (Budde) Bahrns. She was united in marriage May 12, 1962 to Thomas F. “Tom” Koester of Bull Flat in Marshall, North Carolina. Tom preceded her in death in 2018.

Beverly was a lifelong member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Effingham. She was employed in the therapy department for 18 years at St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital and for 10 years at Lakeland Health Care. Beverly then retired from Bonutti Clinic after 10 years as their orthopedic clinic receptionist. She was also involved with farming and was the co-owner of Tom Koester Excavating. 

Her family was the love and pride of her life. Beverly enjoyed cooking; especially baking and sharing her food and recipes with family and friends. 

Bev is survived by her sons, Todd A. (Diane) and Tim E. (Deb), all of Effingham; granddaughters, Morgan (Rod) Brumleve, Macy (Kyle) Dasenbrock, and Casey Koester; great-granddaughter, Brynley Jo Hayes and Mara Dasenbrock; great-grandsons, Hank and August Brumleve; step-grandchildren, Paul (Joci) Hilgenberg and Keith (Amanda) Cummins; step-great-grandchildren, Kelly, Austin and Sierra Hilgenberg and Conner, Liam and Emma Cummins. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; special aunt, Freda Berg; mother and father-in-law, Harold and Mildred Koester; brother-in-law, Gene Koester, and sister-in-law, Janet Stein.