John William Koster

John William Koster, 75, of Carrollton, died Tuesday, December 15, at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield.  He was born on Mother’s Day, May 13, 1945, to John C and Louise (Woods) Koster.  He married Mary Sharon Baldes, June 16, 1967 at St. John’s Church in Carrollton, and she survives.

Also, surviving are their two children, Ann L. (Davey) and John A. (Beth), both of Carrollton, two granddaughters, Madalyn and Meredyth and one grand-dog, Andy.  Other survivors include, a sister-in-law, Janet Liesenfelt of White Hall,  his only nephew Jay (Dominique) Seymoure of Greenfield, cousins David Woods and Jenny Woods of Greenfield, Virginia Woods Ford of Chatham, Dorothy Woods Geers of Breeze, Tony Woods, of Roodhouse, Shirley Woods Gross of Springfield, Virginia Koster Steinacher of Carrollton, Mary Ellen Koster Roemer of Godfrey, three close Koster cousins, Helen Koster Froncheck of Collinsville, Connie Koster Sanvi and Mary Lois Koster Meyer both of Ft Myers, FL, Christmas Wollenweber cousins who adopted him in 1967 and several other Woods and Koster cousins.

He was preceded in death by uncles, Clem Koster, George Koster, Norbert Koster, Troy Woods, Pat Woods, and aunt Helen Ralston, cousin, Harold Woods, brother-in-law, Carl Leisenfelt, and parents-in-law, Clyde and Louise Baldes

John was a life long farmer in Greene County living on the Koster Farm established in 1913.  He was also an avid hunter and fisherman. He loved to hunt deer, ducks, geese, pheasants and quail.  He owned and operated the Koster Farms Hunting Club, his pride and joy since 2001.  He enhoyed meeting clients from across the United States.  They became his long-time friends. He graduated from St. John’s Grade School in 1959, and Carrollton High School in 1963. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Carroll Club, Quail Unlimited, Pheasant Unlimited, and served as a past president of the Carrollton Elevator. John loved farming and hunting, his two children, and their many friends, his granddaughters, his grand-dog, Andy, an Australian Shephard that he took many rides with to look for deer and turkey.  He enjoyed his coffee shop friends and river friends.  He will be missed.

Graveside rites will be held at 11 am Monday, December 21, at St. John’s Cemetery in Carrollton.  Friends and family are invited to attend.  Masks and social distancing are requested by the family.  Memorials are suggested to the St. John’s Cemetery or School, Boyd Gas Cards for Cancer Patients or the We Care Food Pantry.  Please mail donations to the Shields-Bishop Funeral Home, 604 Walnut St. Greenfield, IL. 62044.  Please leave an online memory or condolence at shields-bishopfh.com

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