Sunday, May 3, 1998 Cedar Rapids Gazette - Elizabeth G. Coester, 67, of 4427 Kotts Lane, rural Iowa City, died Friday, May 1, 1998, in her home, following a brief illness. Arrangements are pending with Lensing Funeral & Cremation Services, Iowa City. Thursday, May 7, 1998 Cedar Rapids Gazette - Elizabeth G. Coester, 67, of 4427 Kotts Lane, died Friday, May 1, 1998, in her home, following a short illness. Services: 1 p.m. Sat-urday, May 23, St. Thomas More Catholic Church, by the Rev. David Hitch. Burial: Newport Town-ship Cemetery, north of Iowa City. Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service, Iowa City, is in charge of arrangements. Survivors include her husband, Fritz of Darien, Ill; five children, Janet C. Coester and her husband Richard S. Driver, William R. and his wife Lisa M. Coester, all of Iowa City, Hans C. and his wife Cindi A. Coester of Fort Collins, Colo., Thomas M. Coester of Mari-na Del Rey, Calif., and Susan E. Coester of Iowa City. She was preceded in death by one son, Michael F. Coester. Elizabeth was born Feb. 26, 1931, in Baltimore, Md., the daugh-ter of Wlliam B. and Helen Post Garrett. She attended the Univer-sity at Sorbonne in Paris and received an American Degree from the University of Iowa. She was united in marriage to Fritz Coester on Dec. 27, 1952. Fritz and Elizabeth purchased a farm north of Iowa City in 1955, where she resided until her death. An accomplished horsewoman, she founded the Rapid Creek Pony Club in 1959. Through her involve-ment in the Pony Club, she has influenced the lives of countless young people, offering them op-portunities to learn responsibility and strong work ethics while becoming skilled in horsemanship. To adults and children as well, she was far more than a riding instructor. She was a mentor, a parent and a friend. Elizabeth was also dedicated to the Lord. A devout mentor of the Catholic Church, she was involved in ecu-menical activities. Friends de-scribe her as a woman of deep prayer and spirituality, willing to share with many people. She was an associate member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Millvale in Penn-sylvania. She was a member of Spiritual Directors International and served as a director of Emmanuel House of Prayer, an ecu-menical retreat center for many years. Instead of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in her name. |
Betsy's presence will be dearly missed. I hope her family and friends can take solace in how many lives she was able to touch. The people she taught were more than clients. Betsy had a quiet way of making them her friends and a maternal streak that made us think of her as our 'horse mom'. With these web pages we hope to remember and celebrate a great woman. Please feel free to send articles and memories of Betsy you want to share with others. Email us at aplznoats@aol.com or memories@mwnet.com |
Personal Memories - a place to share thoughts and storiesArticlesSports Illustrated 1961 - By The Book The Chronicle of the Horse; 1964 - Winds Reach Combined Training Center 1964 - Riders Train for Olympics in Johnson County Iowa City Press Citizen 1960 - Mrs. Coester Enjoys European Equestrian Tour Iowa City Press Citizen 1964 - They Ride to Hounds Near Solon Horse Show Times, 1993 - Betsy Coester - World Class Riding on an Iowa Farm Horse Illustrated, October 1961 - Cover Photo Iowa Farmer Today, January, 1985 - A Life Devoted to God and Horses Pony Club News , Spring 1985 - Coester Family-A Reason to be Proud Pedro's Bucking for the Olympics Iowa City Press-Citizen, July 1990 - Fast Pace at Farm
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