Published on September 30, 2026 9:48 am
Last Updated on September 30, 2026 9:48 am
Joan Catherine Koester, 88, of Effingham, passed away on Saturday September 26, 2026 at HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham, Illinois.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, October 5, 2026 at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Effingham. Burial will be in St. Anthony Cemetery in Effingham. Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 4, 2026 at Johnson Funeral Home in Effingham, concluding with a rosary. Memorials may be made to St. Anthony Schools. Online condolences may be shared at www.johnsonandsonsfh.com.
Joan was born on March 10, 1938, in Effingham, IL, the daughter of Albert and Celeste Willenborg. She married Donald F. Koester on June 6, 1959. They recently celebrated their 67-year wedding anniversary. She graduated from St. Anthony High School in 1956. Joan and Donald were blessed with five children, Debbie, Greg, Carl, Alan and Dale. Joan was a homemaker and resided in Effingham her entire life. Besides being a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and sister, she was the consummate homemaker. Joan held various jobs over the years with the Daily News, the Effingham County Tax Assessor and was a cook at the St. Anthony grade school. She also worked many years as an election judge. Joan loved to do puzzles, especially word search, and always had a new word search book in her hand while sitting in her favorite chair or while on the front porch. Ceramics was a hobby of Joan’s and many of her children and grandchildren still have nativity scenes and other items that she personally painted and cherished. Joan loved attending her children and grandchildren’s sporting events until the very end. She would often sit in the car at the park to watch from afar when her mobility became restricted. Joan and Don lived on Third Street near St. Anthony Church and they loved to sit on their front porch and watch the many cars drive by, wave to family and friends and keep an eye on the neighborhood. Joan was a woman of deep and unwavering Catholic faith. She lived her life guided by her love of God, the Blessed Virgin Mary and her family. She devoted substantial time to the St. Anthony CDA. She faithfully attended Mass and found particular joy in praying the Rosary. One of her most treasured possessions was her
Rosary which she kept with her until the end. Most of all, she was committed to her marriage and Don, whom she loved deeply till the very end. Joan lived a wonderful life with Donald but also suffered immense losses that most people never have to endure. She lost her only daughter, Debbie, at a young age, and her youngest son, Dale, to illnesses. Throughout it all though, she remained positive and understood that God had a plan and she simply needed to accept that which she could not change.
Joan is survived by her sons, Greg (Kim) Koester, Carl (Deanna) Koester, and Alan (Debbie) Koester; son-in-law, Harry (Lynne) Hutchison; daughter-in-law, Linda Koester; grandchildren, Hope (Kyle) McBrain, Matthew (Kylie) Koester, Aaron (Alayna) Hutchison, Kathryn (Justin) Roepke, Courtney (Patrick) Johnson, Michael Koester, Tyler (Kelsey) Koester, Trey Koester, Regan Koester and Colin Koester. She is also survived by 10 great-grandchildren. Joan is also survived by siblings, Arthur Willenborg, Larry Willenborg, and Marge Pearcy.
Joan was preceded in death by her parents; husband; daughter, Debra Hutchison; son, Dale Koester; and brother, Dr. Mel Willenborg. She was also preceded in death by her brother-in-law, William Pearcy; and sisters-in-law, Jeanne Willenborg and Pat Willenborg.
The family would like to thank the nurses, including the hospice nurses, at HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital. Special thanks are also extended to Kelly Koester and the staff at the Heartland Senior Living. Their empathy and support was greatly appreciated during this difficult time.