OBITUARY: Donald Raymond “Don” Coester

Donald Raymond “Don” Coester (AKA “Papa” by his 20 grand & great grand kids) peacefully passed away at his home 3 1/2 miles East of Chanute Ks. or a half mile past Chapel Corner on March 10, 2016 on a beautiful sunny Thursday morn about 8:30am. He has gone ahead to meet up with his Lord & Savior and join up with some Ole huntin & fishin buddies in the sky.

He was born Sept. 3, 1935 SE of Walnut Ks. about a quarter mile East of the “new bridge” in an old farm house that sat on an oil lease his Daddy worked. Born to Raymond & Louise (McClelland) Coester, he grew up around Walnut helping his Daddy in the oil fields. During his High School days, he had a hotrod with the nose in the air and the tail draggin. He also fought the gravel roads on a Cushman scooter which he later told stories about it getting the best of him on a regular basis on those same roads. Graduating from Walnut Public High School in 1953, he was the only guy in the class of seven. He held hands with one of those girls during school and later after graduating he married Betty Ann Baugh in June of 1956. To this union five children were born, Nancy “Janie” DeLange of Brazilton Ks, Steve Coester of Chanute Ks, Bonnie Guinotte of Ottawa Ks, Kevin Coester deceased & Melissa Allen Chanute Ks. He has 11 Grand fishin buddies & 9 Great Grand fishin buddies.

As a teenager Don worked with his Daddy in the oil fields and later worked for O’Brien Rock Crusher hauling & spreading Ag Lime. He was instrumental in helping Blair Trailer get they’re start and worked for them until 1975. Don started work for Churchill Pumping Units March of 1975 and continued working as a supervisor/foreman until they moved to Texas in July of 1986 where upon he chose to retired. Don had a special knack for being able to fix most anything put before him, even if it meant coming up with leftover parts when he was done. He also had a talent for losing tools off the back of his golf cart. It was nothing to walk across the parking lot and find a screwdriver or wrench lying beside a set of golf cart tracks. Don never shrugged a task and his handshake sealed the deal. He was very proud of his family name following tradition of the eldest son taking his fathers first name as his middle. A tradition which has been carried on for at least 6 generations or more, and will continue to be. Huntin & fishin was a major part of his life and ran deep in his blood. In the mid 80’s he caught a Flathead that was just a few pounds shy of the state record but it made the newspaper so that was good enough for him. He also liked any type of racing especially Mud Bog racing which he ran a truck appropriately named “Dad’s Toy”.

Don was a member of Westview Southern Baptist Church where he regularly helped with the Men’s Prayer Breakfast. A member of B.P.O.Elks #806 in Chanute, former member of Masons Lodge in Walnut Ks. Don proudly served 8 years with the Army National Guards and was proud to have a paver placed in his name in the Chanute Area Veterans Memorial. Survivors include his wife of the home, Son Steven D Coester, Daughters Nancy DeLange, Bonnie Guinotte & Melissa Allen, many grand kids, great grand kids, nieces & nephews, one brother Jim Coester, 3 sisters Jo Ann Workman, Betty Best & Karen Oesch. Preceding him in death, his parents, a son Kevin Coester, grand son Kolter DeLange, grand daughter Alyssa Allen, brother Kenny Coester, sisters Dorothy Pierce, Vida Toney & Vera Willy. Don was a hard working man, a loving husband, father & Papa. He was very loved and willing to help anyone at anytime. He will cardinally be missed by everyone.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday at the Westview Southern Baptist Church at 1415 S. Plummer Street, Chanute.  Burial will be in the Memorial Park Cemetery in Chanute.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., Monday at the Westview Southern Baptist Church where friends may call after 3:00 p.m., Monday.

Friends may call from 2:00 until 7:00 p.m., Sunday at the Smith-Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Girard.
Memorials are suggested to the Kolter DeLange Memorial Scholarship Fund and these may be left at the church or the Smith-Carson-Wall Funeral Home, 518 W St. John, Box 258, Girard, 66743.
Condolences may be sent to www.wallfuneralservices.com