Craig A. Koester

1957 - 2022

Craig was born in Roseville, CA in 1957 and died October 8, 2022 in Idaho from complications of a neurological disorder. He grew up in Santa Cruz, and attended SCHS, after his family relocated there following his father's (David C. Koester) appointment as City Manager in 1963. After graduating he attended U.C.L.A. and was awarded a degree in Economics with a minor in psychology in 1979. After graduating Craig joined a transportation company in their real estate division and rose to Southwest Director of its REIT in Phoenix. After the recession forced closure of the office, he formed a consulting practice. He was married for 10 years, divorced in 1995 and had no children.Craig was an avid boater and waterskier, a love that was instilled by his father, and which helped him to escape the summer heat while also houseboating on Lake Powell. Later, he moved to Boise and lived briefly in McCall where he managed several residential real estate projects. Craig relocated to Sandpoint, Idaho in 2000. He continued in real estate management as well as some nonprofit service prior to retiring on disability. A baseball devotee, a passion nurtured by his mother, he was a diehard S.F. Giants fan. A recovering alcoholic of 15 years, a daily crossword and Sudoku solver (always in pen), he would take on all comers in a friendly game of cribbage or backgammon. He was also a voracious reader and a lifelong lover of music of all types. In his last years, a double leg amputee, he continued his puzzling, watching the Giants and reading while listening to his favorite jazz tracks. Craig is survived by his sister, Debra and her husband Robert Kellerman and his niece, Chiminh. He is preceded in death by his brother, David H., his sister Karen Lee and her husband Edward K. Lee and his parents, David C. Koester and his wife Jean.