John Wilkie Koster

John Wilkie Koster, 90, of Grants Pass, died Saturday, December 1 2012, at Fair View Transitional Health Center after a short illness.

A visitation will be held December 7 2012 from 10:30 to 11:30 am at Hull and Hull Funeral Directors. A graveside service with military honors will be held at Hillcrest cemetery at 12:30 pm. A gathering time will be from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm located at the Black Bear Diner on the north end of Grants Pass.

John was born March 26 1922 in Albany, Oregon. He was preceded in death by his wife Dee Lila Koster and his son Gary Dee Koster

He is survived by his wife Delores Koster, brother George Koster of Salem, three sons and their wives; John and Debbie Koster of Sacramento, Mike and Darilyn Koster of Grants Pass, Tommy and Teresa Koster of Tigard; two step-daughters and their husbands; Mike and Vickie Wynn of Grants Pass, Cliff and Cathy Carter of Arizona, and twelve grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

John was a World War II veteran who saw a lot of action in northern Africa and Italy. After the war he worked in the three C’s and then in Grants Pass lumber mills until he retired.

John loved spending time with his family. His favorite pastimes were hunting and fishing. He loved to camp in Eastern Oregon for deer hunting. He considered Howard Prairie Lake to be his personal fishing ground. He fished that lake from the day it opened. John considered football the greatest sport ever invented and was an avid Oregon fan.

Whenever someone passes from this life we want to remember the good things about them as we should. Every so often there is an individual who is different from the rest of us. John was one of those individuals. He epitomized the American Spirit. He was born the son of a German immigrant and then fought Germans in WWII without question. He knew that what he was fighting for was right on every level. He was proud to be an American and was willing to fight to his dying day for the country he loved.

John was the kind of man who stood up for what he believed in and did the right thing, even when the right thing wasn’t easy. He showed that in his service to his country and the way he loved and cared for his family. He was the kind of man who was a blessing to the world and made it a better place. He lived his life with his whole heart and soul. He gave more than he ever expected in return. John’s presence made a difference in so many lives, especially his family. He was a great example of what a man should be; an example that was tough to follow but worth the effort trying. He was a member of the “greatest generation” and we should never forget them. The world is a lesser place without him.