Vernita Margaret Koester

Vernita M. Koester of St. Wendel, IN passed away peacefully at her home on Wed. January 24, 2024 surrounded by all of her family. She had a love for playing Clabber, card games, and Bingo. She took pride in her lawn and mowed her grass until the age of 96. She loved celebrating her loved ones by always mailing them cards for their birthdays and special occasions. Vernita was born to Amelia and Andrew Fehrenbacher on February 1st, 1925 – missing her 99th birthday by one week. She was a Rosie the Riveter for the WWII effort and then worked at Stahl’s Meat Packing Co. and was a mail carrier after. She then worked alongside her husband, Oscar, to handle bookkeeping for the family farm and business. After the death of her first husband, Melvin Helfrich, in 1947 she married Oscar Koester in 1950 and raised 8 children. She is preceded in death by Oscar, her son Larry, and great grandson Cameron Born. As well as her three brothers, Harold, Melvin, and Joe Fehrenbacher and one sister, Helen Lyons. She is survived by her 5 daughters, Carol (Kenny) Martin, Janice (Danny) Schmitt, Marlene (Kenny) Kissel, Donna (Rick) Stevens, Connie (Randy) Vickery, and 2 sons, Joe (Becky) Koester, Johnnie (Jeane) Koester, and daughter in law Coral (Larry) Koester, as well as 26 grandchildren, 62 great grandchildren and 6 great great grandchildren, leaving a legacy of 142 whom she was very, very proud of. Vernita will be greatly missed by all who knew her. She also was a member of the KSJ Ladies Auxiliary and the VFW Ladies Auxiliary. A very special thank you to her granddaughter, Melanie Blaize, for her loving care over the last three years, as well as the ladies of Gentiva Hospice and her card playing friends throughout the years. There will be a Mass of Christian Burial held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, January 27, 2024 at St. Wendel Catholic Church, Rev. Ed Schnur officiating. Burial will follow in the St. Wendel Church Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family from 2:00 until 8:00 PM on Friday at Pierre Funeral Home, 2601 W. Franklin Street and from 9:30 AM until service time at St. Wendel Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee or to St. Wendel Catholic Church, 10542 W. Boonville New Harmony Road, Evansville, IN 47720. Condolences may be made online at www.pierrefuneralhome.com.

Vernita Margaret Koester

February 1, 1925 - January 24, 2024