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Major Oliver J. Koester, USMC (Ret.)
June 8, 1919 - May 13, 2012
Our Dad, best known as "Doc" to family and friends, was born June 8, 1919 in Harvey, Illinois to Ella and Frank Koester. He enlisted in the Navy in 1946, then attended Officer's Candidate School. He was a member of an elite group selected to be trained as the first United States Marine Corps fighter Pilots. He attained the rank of Major and was honorably retired from the Marine Corps in 1964, having served in both World War II and The Korean war. In 1952 he met and married our mother, Jeanne Marilyn Ashley. They had a full life together until her death in 2005. After retiring from the service, Dad worked for the Department of Weights and Measures in Ventura, Del Norte, and Solano counties. Thereafter he and our mother opened Dixon Travel in 1984 which they owned and operated for several years. Dad was an avid and very accomplished golfer and photographer. He was also a lover of the great outdoors and took great delight to fishing. He enjoyed fishing for salmon in Crescent City, California and Alaska.
He is survived by daughters, Holly McDonald (Jack) of Montana, and Heather Narez (Anthony) of Dixon, Calif.; beloved granddaughter, Kristen of Dixon; sister, Eleanor of Southern Calif., and his adored dog Daisy.
Preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Ella Koester; and brothers, Gene and Lyle "Stormy" Koester.
A graveside service will be held on May 31, 11 a.m., at Silveyville Cemetery in Dixon. Arrangements by Milton Carpenter Funeral Home, Dixon 707-678-2189.
Published in The Reporter on May 27, 2012
