Cletus J. "Clete" Koester, 88 of Effingham, passed away Saturday, February 24, 2024 at HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital in Effingham, surrounded by his family.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 am Saturday, March 2, 2024 at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Effingham with burial in St. Anthony Cemetery with military rites. Visitation will be held from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm Friday at Bauer Funeral Home in Effingham with a Knights of Columbus rosary to follow. Memorial donations may be given to the St. Anthony Schools.

Clete was born January 12, 1936 in Trowbridge, the son of Alfred F. and Catherine E. (Keck) Koester. He married Elisabeth Ann "Betty" Goeckner on May 3, 1958. Clete served in the United States Army and during his enlistment, he was a member of the Honor Guard. For many years, Clete worked at Norge and World Color Press.

He loved watching The Price is Right, drinking Pepsi, and playing Pinochle with anyone at any time. Clete enjoyed spending time with his family celebrating birthdays and holidays. He liked his motorcycles and in the wintertime, he used them for giving sled rides around the neighborhood. Clete had a love of gardening, gun and coin collecting, as well as hunting squirrels and rabbits. He was a diehard Chicago Cubs fan. Clete was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church in Effingham, the Teutopolis American Legion Post #924, and the Effingham Knights of Columbus Council #665.

Clete is survived by his wife, Elisabeth; seven sons, Greg, Dan, Chris, John (Jackie), Tim (Bev), Ted (Kathy), and Eric; daughter-in-law, Beth Musser Koester; sister, Madonna Goeckner; brother, Thomas Koester; grandchildren, Hilary, MacKency, Brandon, Matthew, Cody, Kallie, Jessie, Reid, Jake, Alexander, Alicia, Kierani, and Teagan; great-grandchildren, Keaton, Hadley, Silas, Sawyer, Wade, Benson, and Milanie.

Clete was preceded in death by his parents; son, David; siblings, Alice Malcom, Raymond Koester, Bernard Koester, Rita Brumleve, Leonard Koester and Adolph Koester.

Clete's family would like to thank HSHS Hospice Care and Home Care Nurses, the staff of St Anthony Memorial Hospital especially the ICU nurses, Jenna Flood, Collin Hartke and Kristin Perkins. Special Thank You to Fr. Peter Harman, Fr. Michael Berndt, Fr. Adam Prichard for their many blessings and prayers.