Obituary for Mitch Koestner
Mitchell Wayne Koestner, age 52 of Webster City, IA, passed away on Saturday, March 12, 2022, at Van Diest Medical Center in Webster City. A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 20, 2022, at Foster Funeral and Cremation Center in Webster City. Visitation will be held on the same day prior to the service from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home. The family invites all attendees to dress in their favorite Harley Davidson and/or Iowa Hawkeye gear. Foster Funeral & Cremation Center is in charge of arrangements.
Mitch Koestner was born on December 17, 1969, to parents Donald and Christine (Chalfant) Koestner in Fort Dodge, IA. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Webster City. He attended school in Webster City where he grew up. Mitch graduated from Webster City High School with the class of 1988. He then furthered his education at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, graduating in 1992 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. Mitch was proud to be a Hawkeye!
In high school, he was an active member of FFA. When Mitch was young and worked on the farm with his parents, he loved being his dad’s right-hand man. His dad fondly recalls the two of them getting on lawnmowers, and while they raced around the yard, they would throw apples at each other. It was all fun and games until you got hit with a not-so-ripe apple! Mitch liked to have fun, always.
On April 2, 1994, Mitch married the love of his life, Jodi Eberling, at Zion Reformed Church in Sheffield, IA…it was her chocolate chip cookies that sealed the deal. This union was blessed with six children: Taylor, Colton, Zach, Gage, Dylan, and Kinzey. Together Mitch and Jodi raised their family in Webster City where Mitch worked for Beam Industries as the Procurement Director for nineteen years. When the Beam plant closed in 2011, he and his family moved to Thief River Falls, MN, where he worked for Artic Cat as lead Procurement Manager. They would find themselves back in Webster City in 2017, which led him to his career at US Gypsum in Fort Dodge where he worked as a Process Improvement Manager. While under their employment, he obtained his Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. He was extremely driven in all his life pursuits.
Mitch was a very intelligent human being. In fact, his kids will tell you they often asked him to ‘dumb it down’ for them when he spoke. He was also a jokester and could keep the straightest face you’ve ever seen. He was a music lover and shared his love of eighties rock with his kids. Mitch was a very hands-on, involved dad. He enjoyed attending his children’s sporting events and helped coach several of their teams over the years. Playing board and card games was another thing they all loved doing together. The list of things Mitch and his family did together could go on and on. He and his family would participate in annual cardboard box boat races down the river. Attending and participating in Motocross races with Jodi and the kids was also something they all had fun doing. Mitch always had a great time attending and participating in drag racing events with his uncle Dave, cousins, and friends. If Mitch was not outside enjoying a pool party or camping, he could be found playing video games with his children. He was a member of the National Rifle Association and always looked forward to shooting with his family and friends.
Mitch was a man who was always willing to help others. He thoroughly enjoyed being able to help whoever whenever he could. He was a true friend. Mitch was involved with a group called Self Help that helped area families in need build homes. He helped them build five or six homes over the years. He also worked alongside his father to build his and Jodi’s first family home as well as his parents’ home.
It’s no secret that Mitch loved his Harley Davidson. It brought him great joy to get on and just ride the open road. He was a member of A.B.A.T.E. of Iowa. While his bike meant a lot to him, nothing topped the love he had for his family. He was a hardworking, smart, genuine, loving, caring, and funny man who was taken from this earth too soon. He will be missed dearly by all those who knew and loved him.
Mitch is survived by his wife, Jodi Koestner of Webster City; children: Taylor (Troy) of High Amana, Colton (Lou) of Tampa, FL, Zach (Kanie) of Iowa City, Dylan of Fort Dodge, and Kinzey of Webster City; parents Don and Christine Koestner of Webster City; sister Deb Koestner-Rees of Fort Dodge; beloved pets Marley, Vexum, Yogi Bear, and Pepper; grandpets: Ruger, Remmington, Colt, and Apollo; many aunts, uncles, cousins, other extended family members and friends.
He is preceded in death by his infant son, Gage Cooper (2001); maternal and paternal grandparents; brother-in-law Pat Rees; uncle David Koestner, and aunts and uncle.
Mitch Koestner was born on December 17, 1969, to parents Donald and Christine (Chalfant) Koestner in Fort Dodge, IA. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Webster City. He attended school in Webster City where he grew up. Mitch graduated from Webster City High School with the class of 1988. He then furthered his education at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, graduating in 1992 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. Mitch was proud to be a Hawkeye!
In high school, he was an active member of FFA. When Mitch was young and worked on the farm with his parents, he loved being his dad’s right-hand man. His dad fondly recalls the two of them getting on lawnmowers, and while they raced around the yard, they would throw apples at each other. It was all fun and games until you got hit with a not-so-ripe apple! Mitch liked to have fun, always.
On April 2, 1994, Mitch married the love of his life, Jodi Eberling, at Zion Reformed Church in Sheffield, IA…it was her chocolate chip cookies that sealed the deal. This union was blessed with six children: Taylor, Colton, Zach, Gage, Dylan, and Kinzey. Together Mitch and Jodi raised their family in Webster City where Mitch worked for Beam Industries as the Procurement Director for nineteen years. When the Beam plant closed in 2011, he and his family moved to Thief River Falls, MN, where he worked for Artic Cat as lead Procurement Manager. They would find themselves back in Webster City in 2017, which led him to his career at US Gypsum in Fort Dodge where he worked as a Process Improvement Manager. While under their employment, he obtained his Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. He was extremely driven in all his life pursuits.
Mitch was a very intelligent human being. In fact, his kids will tell you they often asked him to ‘dumb it down’ for them when he spoke. He was also a jokester and could keep the straightest face you’ve ever seen. He was a music lover and shared his love of eighties rock with his kids. Mitch was a very hands-on, involved dad. He enjoyed attending his children’s sporting events and helped coach several of their teams over the years. Playing board and card games was another thing they all loved doing together. The list of things Mitch and his family did together could go on and on. He and his family would participate in annual cardboard box boat races down the river. Attending and participating in Motocross races with Jodi and the kids was also something they all had fun doing. Mitch always had a great time attending and participating in drag racing events with his uncle Dave, cousins, and friends. If Mitch was not outside enjoying a pool party or camping, he could be found playing video games with his children. He was a member of the National Rifle Association and always looked forward to shooting with his family and friends.
Mitch was a man who was always willing to help others. He thoroughly enjoyed being able to help whoever whenever he could. He was a true friend. Mitch was involved with a group called Self Help that helped area families in need build homes. He helped them build five or six homes over the years. He also worked alongside his father to build his and Jodi’s first family home as well as his parents’ home.
It’s no secret that Mitch loved his Harley Davidson. It brought him great joy to get on and just ride the open road. He was a member of A.B.A.T.E. of Iowa. While his bike meant a lot to him, nothing topped the love he had for his family. He was a hardworking, smart, genuine, loving, caring, and funny man who was taken from this earth too soon. He will be missed dearly by all those who knew and loved him.
Mitch is survived by his wife, Jodi Koestner of Webster City; children: Taylor (Troy) of High Amana, Colton (Lou) of Tampa, FL, Zach (Kanie) of Iowa City, Dylan of Fort Dodge, and Kinzey of Webster City; parents Don and Christine Koestner of Webster City; sister Deb Koestner-Rees of Fort Dodge; beloved pets Marley, Vexum, Yogi Bear, and Pepper; grandpets: Ruger, Remmington, Colt, and Apollo; many aunts, uncles, cousins, other extended family members and friends.
He is preceded in death by his infant son, Gage Cooper (2001); maternal and paternal grandparents; brother-in-law Pat Rees; uncle David Koestner, and aunts and uncle.