Lynette B. (Hansen) Koester

Lynette B. (Hansen) Koester of Mankato, Kansas, was born May 31, 1947, at Fairbury, Nebraska to Enos Emil and Ruth Lillie (Sykes) Hansen, and departed this life, Thursday, March 6, 2014, at the Jewell County Hospital, Mankato, Kansas, at the age of 66 years, 9 months, and 5 days.

Lynette was baptized on July 11, 1947, at the Bethany Lutheran Church in Ruskin, Nebraska. She graduated from the Ruskin High School. She married Donald H. Koester on June 12, 1966, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Ruskin, Nebraska. To this union two sons were born, Darren and Travis.

Lynette was active in the Mankato Community. She operated a Day Care. Lynette owned and operated Town and Country Variety store from 1978 to December 2011. She was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, Women of Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (WELCA), served on the Chamber of Commerce, and was treasurer of the retail committee. Lynette was the driving force for Easter Egg Hunts, Christmas promotions, and Halloween at retail stores in downtown Mankato over the years

Besides Lynette's community activities, she was a strong supporter of her family. Lynette was very close to her mother, and enjoyed having the grandkids come to visit. She was busy keeping up on the activities of the extended family and enjoyed knowing what the nieces and nephews were doing.

Lynette was preceded in death by her parents.

She is survived by her husband, Donald of the home; two sons – Darren and wife, Dawn Koester of Linwood, Kansas, and Travis Koester of Mankato; grandchildren – Camryn and Colten Koester of Linwood, Kansas; brother – Gary and wife, Enid Hansen of Kearney, Nebraska; sister - Barbara and husband, Dave Smith of Lincoln, Nebraska; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Graveside service for Lynette B. (Hansen) will be (was) at the Spring Creek Cemetery, Ruskin, Nebraska, at 11:30 a.m., Monday, March 10, 2014, with Pastor Dennis Beckmann officiating. Celebration of Life service at the Evangelical Lutheran Church, Mankato, Kansas, will be (was) at 2:00 p.m., Monday, March 10, 2014, with Pastor Dennis Beckmann officiating. Mrs. Gayle Molzan wasthe pianist, and Mrs. Janelle Greene was the organist. Casket bearers will be (were: Rachelle Bryant, Bryan Hansen, Galen Hansen, Jennifer Marschbanks, Tracey Rittscher, Mark Smith, and Tim Smith. Visitation will be (was) Sunday, March 9, 2014, from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with the family receiving friends from 5:30 pm to 7:00 p.m.
The family suggests memorials to the Jewell County Hospital, Mankato, Kansas. Melby Mortuary, Mankato, Kansas, was in charge of arrangements.