Therese Rose (Westhoff) Koester, age 92, of Joplin, Missouri, died peacefully surrounded by family April 19, 2023 at the KU Medical Center in Kansas City.
Born December 9, 1930 in Greenbush, Therese was the daughter of Charles and Clemence Westhoff, the eleventh of 12 children. Therese grew up in the Greenbush/St. Paul area and graduated from St. Paul High School. Therese and Ed Koester were united in marriage in 1952 and settled in Joplin in 1966. He preceded her in death.
Therese was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, great-great grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend who dedicated her life caring for others – she was a mother to everyone, and her family was her greatest joy.
Therese is survived by her children, Gene Koester (Nancy) of Joplin, Mo.; Dave Koester of Edmond, Okla.; Debbie Lovell of Erie; Brenda Bever (Joe) of Kansas City; Chris Koester (Christi) of Joplin, Mo., and Jennifer Duncan (Russell) of Goodman, Mo; her grandchildren, Jessica Denton (Shawn), Natalie Mosley (Josh), Andrea Gautreaux (Josh), Stephanie Gibson (Cody), April Hulen, Doug Arnold, Jr. (April), Trey Lovell (Malorie), Travis Lovell (Elizabeth), Erica Bever (Adam), Lauren Bever (Tracy), Cassy Trammel (Evan), Hunter Koester, Hailey Koester, Cody Duncan (Ronna), and Jason Duncan; her extended grandchildren Gannon and Blake Ewing; her great grandchildren, Emily, Ryan, Jaxon, Piper, Charlotte, Kate, Bristol, London, Austin, Triton, Tawny, Tasha, Taylor, Tori, Cooper, Conner, Charlee, Chandler, Landon, Lenna, Nathan, Amelia, Cohen, Benny, Cameron, Daniel and Cole; her great-great grandchildren, Andrew, Rylee, Declan, Marlowe, Norah, and Matthew; and many nieces and nephews also survive.
In addition to her parents and husband, Therese was preceded in death by her brothers and sisters, Sarah Westhoff, Johnny Westhoff, Ed Westhoff, Vess Westhoff, Bernard Westhoff, Otis Westhoff, Marie Hayden, Barb Born, Leonard Westhoff, Louise Kennedy and Cecilia Mae Ohs, her son-in-law Skip Lovell and her grandson, Jason Arnold.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, April 26 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Parker Mortuary, 1502 S. Joplin Ave., Joplin, Mo.
Memorial Services will be held Thursday, April 27 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, 115 W. Walnut, Columbus, KS. Burial will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery, 3700 N. Rangeline Rd, Webb City, Mo.
Online viewing of church services can be seen on the Parker Mortuary Facebook page at https://www.facebook. com/parkermortuary/.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital online at www.stjude.org/donate or by mail at 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn. 38105 and may be entrusted to the mortuary.
Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of Parker Mortuary, Joplin.