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Josephine Koelze Obituary
12/2/1925 2/8/2005
Services: Sat., Feb. 12, 2:00 p.m.
A Funeral Mass for Josephine Brand Koelzer, 79, will be held Saturday, February 12, 2005, at 2:00 p.m., at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church. Father Ralph Belluomini will officiate the service.
Josephine was born on December 2, 1925, in Inglewood, CA, and lived in various cities throughout California before her family settled in Bakersfield in the 1930s. Josie attended St. Josephs Grammar School and graduated from East Bakersfield High School in 1943. In high school Josie met the love of her life and eternal mate, Jerry Koelzer. They married in 1946 after Dad returned from the war and they spent the next 59 years together devoted to each other, their children and their faith.
Josies unplanned career with the Kern County Sheriffs office began as a clerk in the civil division in the early 1960s. Soon after, she was recruited to apply for a newly formed position as a female deputy sheriff. Josie surprising accepted the job and spent the next 15 years working with victims of child abuse and domestic abuse. She was involved in the formation of Haven House and was active in the Big Brothers, Big Sisters organization. Josie retired from the Sheriffs office with the rank of Investigator.
Josie and Jerry spent many wonderful years at their home in Pismo Beach along with their big circle of family and friends, until poor health required them to sell the house in the mid 1990s.
Our wife and mother gave of herself to all, freely and unconditionally. Her smile was huge and her heart even bigger. She assumed the role of Nana like it was invented just for her.
Josie is survived by her loving husband, Jerry; sons, Robert (Marsha), Joe (Eileen), Matt (Pam) all of Bakersfield; daughter, Geraldine Toovey of Nampa, Idaho; brother, John Brand of Bakersfield; 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Maddox and his staff for their compassion and also the staff at Bakersfield Heart Hospital. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the local chapter of the American Cancer Society or Optimal Hospice.
Hopson-Anspach Family Mortuary
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