Dale A. Koester (55) of Effingham

Dale A. Koester, 55, of Effingham, IL, passed away on Monday, November 11, 2024 at Riverside Medical Center in Kankakee, IL. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, November 18, 2024 at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Effingham.  Burial will be in St. Anthony Cemetery in Effingham.  Visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday at Johnson Funeral Home in Effingham and will begin with a walk-through by the Effingham Retired Volunteer Firefighters.

In lieu of flowers and gifts, memorials may be made to the Effingham Retired Volunteer Firefighters Association, E.R.V.F.A. or the donor’s choice.  Online condolences may be shared by clicking here. 

Dale A. Koester was born on January 24, 1969, in Effingham, IL, the son of Donald F. and Joan C. (Willenborg) Koester.  He married Linda Van Horn on September 19, 1992.  For many years Dale enjoyed his volunteer position at the Effingham Fire Department.  He was also a dedicated, hard-working concrete laborer for MBI.  On the weekends, he enjoyed spending time with his wife, Linda, family, and friends. He was also very excited about becoming a grandfather in the new year.  Dale never missed an opportunity to show off his culinary skills or his deer camera pictures.  During deer season, he would spend as much time as he could in the stand and would never miss hanging out with his buddies at deer camp.  

Dale is survived by his wife, Linda Koester of Effingham; son, Tyler (Kelsey) Koester of Effingham; parents, Donald and Joan Koester of Effingham; brothers, Greg (Kim) Koester, Carl (Deanna) Koester, and Alan (Debbie) Koester; brothers-in-law, Harry (Lynne) Hutchison, and Mike Van Horn; and numerous nieces and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his sister, Debra Hutchison; parents-in-law, Charles and Delores Van Horn; and brothers-in-law, Steve and John Van Horn.