Kenneth J. “Kenny” Coester, 62, of Brazilton, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013 at his residence in Brazilton surrounded by his family.

Kenny was born July 16, 1950 in Walnut, a son of Raymond and Louise McClelland Coester. Kenny and his family moved to Brazilton in 1955 where he attended District 12 School through the 8th grade and graduated from Girard High School in 1968.

Kenny was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church in Brazilton, being confirmed in 1963, with membership transferred to Trinity Lutheran Church in Girard after the closure of Zion Lutheran Church.

Kenny served in the U.S. Army from 1969 until receiving an honorable discharge in 1975.

Kenny was a member of the George C. Brown Post No. 26, American Legion of Girard since 1969, serving as commander in 1977.

He married Cheryl Sturgeon in 1971 and they divorced in 1983. He married Sue Fraze on March 10, 1984 in his parents’ home in Brazilton.

They made their home in Chanute from 1984 until moving to Brazilton in 1993.

Kenny was a charter member of the Brazilton Ruritan and the Brazilton Rural Fire Department. Kenny helped with the Hepler Hustlers 4-H Club and the Crawford County Fair from 1995 until 2007.

Kenny joined the Plumbers and Steamfitters Local Union # 664 in 1974, traveling the United States as a welder before retiring from Local Union # 441 due to ill health in May of 2012. He worked the last 15 years for Piping and Equipment as a field superintendent.

Kenny enjoyed hunting and fishing with his sons and watching their sporting events, watching his grandchildren’s activities, and playing slots with Sue.

Survivors are his wife, Sue, of the home; sons Aaron Coester and his wife, Melissa, of Girard, and Dustin Coester and his fiancé Lindsey of Walnut; grandchildren Mackenzie, Alex and Maddie; brothers Don Coester and his wife, Betty Ann, of Chanute and Jim Coester and his wife, Cindy, of Brazilton; sisters Dorothy Pierce and her husband, George, of Pittsburg, Betty Best of Girard, Jo Ann Workman and her husband, Don, of Pittsburg, and Karen Oesch and her husband, Cliff, of Phoenix, Ariz.; special brother Jack Blevins and his wife, Jana, of Garnett; special friends Red Sturgeon and Cheryl and Bill Correll; several nieces, nephews, cousins, stepnieces and stepnephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; father-in-law Bill Fraze; mother and stepfather-in-law Lenora and Howard Johnson; sisters Vera Willey and Vida Toney; nephew Kevin Coester; great-nieces Alyssa Dawn Allen and Kennedy Coester; brothers-in-law Jan Fraze, Roger Willey, and Ted Best.

Funeral will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 2 at the Smith-Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Girard. Burial will be in Zion Lutheran Cemetery at Brazilton with military honors given by the George C. Brown Post No. 26, American Legion of Girard.

The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m. Friday at the Smith-Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Girard where friends may call after 11 a.m. Friday.

Memorials are suggested to the George C. Brown Post No. 26, American Legion Building Fund and these may be left at the Smith-Carson-Wall Funeral Home, 518 W St. John, Box 258, Girard, 66743.

Condolences may be sent to www.wallfuneralservices.com