Mary Ann (Eckart) Koesler

Mass of Christian Burial for Mary Ann Koesler will be held at 10:00 AM on Thursday, June 29, 2023 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father Joseph Keating and Deacon Jerry Caplinger officiating. Burial to follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery. Pallbearers will be her grandsons Nicholas Yosten, Jonathan Yosten, Danny Luttmer, Timothy Luttmer, Michael Koesler, Benjamin Koesler, Charles P. Koesler, and Max C. Koesler. Rosary and Vigil will be held at 6:00 PM on Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at Scott Funeral Home in Muenster with Deacon Gary Endres officiating. Mary Ann passed away on Saturday, June 24, 2023. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Muenster Memorial Hospital Auxiliary or the Sacred Heart Catholic Parish Capital Campaign. Mary Ann was born in Muenster on July 25, 1941 to James John and Angeline Christine (Walterscheid) Eckart. She was the 1st born of 11 children. She attended school in Muenster, and later obtained her nursing degree. Mary Ann ended up taking a position at Muenster Memorial Hospital where she served the community for over 40 years. During her younger life she met Alfons Koesler, and they kept in contact with weekly love letters. Eventually Joe proposed to Mary Ann for Alfons with an Etch-A-Sketch that read “Will you Marry Dad”. Alfons said he never even got to propose, but we know what the result would have been. Alfons and Mary Ann got married on January 31, 1970. Mary Ann happily accepted her new family that had already begun with Joe, Susan, Barbara, and Mary Lin. Soon after they added two more to their family, Carol and Max. They all lived on the family dairy farm, where they instilled the love of Christ and the hard work it takes to run a functioning dairy. During this time, Mary Ann also worked the night shift at the hospital where she was dedicated to her patients and made lasting friendships with her co-workers. It's obvious to anyone who met Mary Ann the most important thing in this world was her family. Whether it was the large Eckart Family Easter celebrations, the hot summer nights eating watermelon and playing “hide and seek”, shooting fireworks on the 4th of July even when Alfons didn’t want them shot, watching her grandchildren in sporting events, and the birthday celebrations that had to have cake, coffee, and homemade ice cream. After retirement from the hospital and farm, she would enjoy weekly SNAP gatherings with her siblings, neighbors, and friends. She enjoyed collecting Precious Moments statues and crosses. Her Great Grandchildren counted over 100 this weekend. She filled her spare time sewing, completing puzzles, word searches, and watching games shows. Some of the families’ fondest memories of Mary Ann are: the golf cart rides around the farm even after she drove over Timmy in the hay barn. Her amazing home cooked meals, that come to find out, were based with boxed and canned goods. Even though Alfons loved all kinds of birds, Mary Ann begrudgingly tolerated his hobby. Teaching her grandchildren to play Yahtzee. Her boisterous contagious laugh left everyone in a great mood. She was always ready to spoil her grandchildren with snacks and sodas that they weren’t allowed to have at home. But her fondest memory we all agree on is her 40th wedding Anniversary where there was a full turkey and dressing dinner with bride and groom cakes; with the whole family gathering at “the farm” after mass and a blessing from Father. Needless to say, she left a lasting impression on everyone she met. It’s obvious she lived her faith when you get to know her amazing children and their spouses, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. The countless nurses she mentored and the fact she has 3 grandchildren in the medical field are evidence of her continued contribution to the healthcare community and her large family. She was preceded in death by her husband: Alfons Koesler; daughter: Barbara Koesler, parents: James and Angeline Eckart; siblings: Jerry Eckart, Mike Eckart, and Aggie Hesse; and brother-in-law: Bill Black. Mary Ann is survived by her children: Joe and wife Kristy Koesler of Illinois Bend, Susan and husband James Yosten, Mary Lin and husband Duane Knabe, Carol and husband Gene Luttmer, Max and wife Cindy Koesler all of Muenster, and; 16 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; sisters: Betty Simmel of Muenster, Rose Black of Myra, and Dolores and husband Dale Hofbauer of Muenster; brothers: Don Eckart of Muenster, Jim Eckart of Myra, John and wife Mary of Spokane, Washington, and Steve Eckart of Dallas; brother-in-law: Bernard Hesse of Muenster; sister-in-law: Gerri Eckart of Lindsay; aunts: Mary Ann Walterscheid and Peggy Walterscheid; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Even though we are all sad that Mary Ann has passed on, we are comforted in knowing she is being welcomed home by those that have gone before her.

Mary Ann (Eckart) Koesler

July 25, 1941 - June 24, 2023