James Koestner

It is with great sorrow that the family is announcing the death of Lt. Col USAF Ret. James E. Koestner. He passed away peacefully at the age 94 surrounded by family on October 30th, 2024, in Shreveport, LA.

He was born on March 20th,1930 in Altoona, Pennsylvania to Peter and Kathryn Koestner. He was the youngest of seven children and according to his sisters was very mischievous and always a jokester. During high school Jim seriously considered becoming a priest and attended the St. Josephinum Seminary in Columbus, OH. It was founded by Joseph Jessing in 1888 to prepare seminarians for the many German-speaking communities in the United States. But after attending for two years he decided this was not for him.

He then attended Penn State University at Altoona. It was at Penn State where he met the love of his life Joan Johnson. Their marriage began in June 1955 and it lasted for over 64 years, until her death. Along the way Jim and Joan had five children, Ernie, Herman, Carolyn, Carl, and Mary.

From 1948 - 51 he was in the Navy. Jim started his Air Force career at James Connally AFB, TX 1954 and transitioned to Hunter Air Force base in Savannah, GA. Because he wanted to fly airplanes he went back to school at Clemson, SC., in 1957 where he earned his degree in civil engineering. Then Jim moved the young family of two boys and Joan to Tampa, FL. as a B-47 navigator. Carolyn and Carl were added to the family in Tampa, FL. They moved again to Sacramento, CA. to train for the B-52 navigator position. From there they went to Abilene, TX and Mary came into the family at Dyess Air Force Base. The last air force move was to K.I. Sawyer AFB, MI., where he retired in October 1979 as a Lieutenant Colonel. Jim spent 24 years in the service notably as a navigator in the B-52 aircraft and later becoming a flight instructor. He received the call name “Yogi” by his Air Force buddies early in his career. “Yogi Bear” was a very popular cartoon character in the late 1950s, who was sweet and kindhearted, just like dad. This nick name stayed with him for life. He had several stints overseas and served in the Vietnam War. 

Once retired, they would travel from the harsh winter months in Michigan to spend warms months every year in Port Aransas, TX. They loved the seashore, good sea food, swimming and fishing. They would also visit their children and grandchildren on the way to the coast.

Jim needed to occupy his time so he joined his local Lions Club in Gwinn, MI. He started the first Lions Club on an air base at K.I. Sawyer. He so enjoyed the Lions organization that he and Joan became a big part of the organization. He serviced as a District Governor for Upper Michigan in 1985. They made many friends and traveled the roads and back roads as the District Governor. 

They owned a beautiful home on Provost Lake in Upper Michigan. The home was a labor of love. Many friends and family visited often. But the hard decision came to make a move because of the harsh winters and distance from family. They moved from Michigan in 1999 to Grove, OK. where they bought a home on Grand Lake. He volunteered at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Grove, OK where he was a Eucharistic Minister. He and mom also did bird watching in Grove as members of the Audubon Society. Jim and Joan liked to tootle around in their pontoon boat on Grand Lake. The kids and grandkids would spend many joyful Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays over the years in Grove, Ok.

After Joan passed away in 2019, Jim then moved to Bossier City/Shreveport LA, to be closer to family and his dear daughter Mary who resides at Holy Angels Residential Facility in Shreveport.

James is preceded in death by his parents Peter and Kathryn, his son Herman, his brothers Ernest, Herman, and John, his sisters Anne Marie, Rosalie, and Pauline.

He is survived by his son Ernie Koestner and wife Kathy, daughter Carolyn Laird and husband Tad, son Carl Koestner and wife Lisa, and daughter Mary Koestner. James also leaves behind nine grandchildren Elise, Mathew, Adam, Jennifer, Hollis, Mary, Celise, Elizabeth, and Jon and 8 great-grandchildren.

Dad was fun loving, witty and always up for a good time. He loved to wrestle with the grandkids and had a nickname for everyone. He did not know a stranger and made everyone feel welcomed and valued. He was loved by all that knew him and his legacy will live on in all of us. We are deeply grateful for having our father in our lives.

We want to give a very special Thank You for the kind and dedicated care given by the staff at The Glen Residential Facility. They went above and beyond in taking care of our father and made each and every day a little bit brighter for him.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Sister Conchetta Fund at Holy Angels Residential Facility, 10450 Ellerbe Rd. Shreveport, LA 71106 or your Local Lions Club.

Jim’s ashes will be interred at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery at 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, TX 75211 on Friday January 3rd, 2025, at 2:00 pm.