Duane George Koschmeder of Tulsa, OK passed away peacefully on January 22, 2024 after his health declined at 83 years old.
He was born on November 23, 1940 to George Frederick and Irene Dorothy Koschmeder (nee Oltrogge) on the family farm in Readlyn Iowa. "Born in the living room on the family sofa" as his mother would often remind everyone. He was one of three children; one older sister, Dorothy Schuler of Independence Iowa, and one younger sister, Carol Rae Woodbury of Council Bluffs Iowa.
After graduating from Waterloo West High School he then went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Northern Iowa in Accounting and would spend over 50 years as an accountant in the Oil and Gas industry, primarily in Oklahoma.
On November 20, 1965 he married Billie Jeanne Bevard of
Waterloo, Iowa and together they would raise two children. A son, Mark Koschmeder of Tulsa and daughter, Denae Koschmeder of Broken Arrow.
In 1963 he entered the Iowa National Guard with the 47th Infantry Division>>34th Infantry Brigade>>133 Infantry Regiments>>1st Battalion. After completing basic training at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri he returned again in 1965 for training as a Field Communication Crewman and achieved the rank of Specialist, then Sargeant. He would go on to volunteer to be a Drill Sargeant during his tenure before he was Honorably Discharged in 1971.
After spending 30 years with Sunoco Oil, and 5 years with American Electric and Power in multiple accountancy and supervisory roles, he would end his career with another 14 years with Targa Pipeline as a Right-of-Way accountant. Along the way he would earn a series of achievements in his field including earning licenses as a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Financial Planner, Certified Managerial Accountant, and Certified Internal Auditor. He was a member of the Oklahoma Society of CPA's, served on the Board of Directors of Western Sun Federal Credit Union in the late 1980's and early 1990's, and would return to the institutions Board of Advisors the 2000's.
On weekends you could find him at home working around the house, drinking Coors beer, and smoking his pipe packed with Carter Hall brand tobacco. His love of woodworking and home improvement projects would lead him to a 20-year part time position at Home Depot, where his family was convinced he only worked there for the employee discount.
He was preceded in death by his parents and wife Billie. He is survived by his sisters Dorothy and Carol, as well as his son Mark, daughter Denae and her wife Kellie Palmer.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations can be made to:
Porta Caeli House, https://portacaeli.org/donate/
Wounded Warrior Project, https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/donate
or Broken Arrow Neighbors, https://baneighbors.net/