Marge Koester, 1936–2026 Educator, Musician, and World traveler, Dies at 89
Christened Marjorie Ann Mischnick, Marge was born in Blair, Nebraska, November 1936. She was the eldest of five surviving children born to Walter and Hilda (Probst) Mischnick.
Marge Spent most of her childhood in Alliance and graduated from Alliance High School in 1954. She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in education from Colorado State College, and a master’s degree in educational psychology from the University of Nebraska in 1964.
On June 24, 1961 Marge married Bill Koester of Alliance, Nebraska. Together they traveled the world setting foot on every continent but Antarctica. The map on their wall was littered with pins that represented ports of call they had visited, and they were eager to share their memories and observations with anyone curious enough to ask.
In retirement Marge and Bill moved to Fort Collins Colorado and became active members of Trinity Lutheran Church and avid supporters of the Fort Collins Symphony. After her Bill’s death in 2015, Marge returned to Alliance and took up residence at the Crossroads care facility where John Sibbitt became her constant companion.
Marge read a very, very large number of books in her lifetime. She belonged to local book groups in both Alliance and Ft Collins and typically read something for herself in addition to her book group’s monthly selection.
Marge taught kindergarten in the Alliance school system and later in life taught for Western Nebraska Community College. She was the principal organist an at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Alliance for many years and also played regularly at St John’s Lutheran Church in Alliance, and Trinity Lutheran in Fort Collins. In addition, Marge played for a myriad of wedding and funeral ceremonies at many local churches.
Marge is survived by her son and daughter in law; Dave Koester and Jingjing Du of Redondo Beach, California, her brother; Ron Mishnick in Alliance, and her sister; Carol Seeger who resides in St Louis, Missouri.
Marge leaves behind a wide circle of extended family members and friends. Those who knew her will remember a gregarious soul who combined curiosity, exuberance and warmth — someone eager to go adventuring and equally happy at a kitchen table with a cup of coffee and time to talk.
Marge drew her last breath in the afternoon of February 3rd 2026 surrounded by family, she was 89.
A celebration of life service for Marge is tentatively scheduled in June of 2026 at St John’s Lutheran Church in Alliance.
Online condolences may be left at www.batesgould.com.