Obituary of Stephen R. Koser

Stephen R. Koser, age 76 lifelong resident of this area died suddenly, Monday, November 20, 2023, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

Memorial services will be held at 2 pm Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at Parkview Church in Iowa City where there will be a time of visitation beginning at 12 noon until service time.  There will be a time of fellowship following the services in the Atrium of the church.  Private family graveside services will be held at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Coralville.  Instead of flowers, memorial donations can be made in his memory to Parkview Church.  

Stephen Roy Koser was born October 22, 1947, in Rock Island, Illinois the son of Morton and Ruth (Meikle) Koser.  His family moved to this area where he attended school, graduating from University High School (U High) in 1965.  While at U High he excelled in all sports accumulating 13 Varsity Letters before graduation.  He attended Cornell College and played football, but realized he wasn’t large enough, so transferred to the University of Iowa where he received his BA degree in Psychology in 1970. Following graduation, he entered military service serving in the United States Army during the Vietnam War.  Returning to this area following service, he became the third generation to operate the Koser’s General Store in North Liberty and later added Koser’s Kones to their business.  Following the sale of their business, he worked for many years at the Coralville Walmart enjoying seeing many of the locals.

On October 2, 1976, Stephen married who he would describe as his best friend, Kristine M. Wilson.  To this beautiful union, two children, Keri and Kort were born, and from them, their spouses and grandchildren blessed Steve’s life beyond wonder.  Steve was a man of strong faith, understanding all came from our Lord, and that one of God’s greatest creations was nature.  You see, Steve lived his life by the three F’s; Faith, Family, and Fishing!  This man would fish every day in the lakes and rivers of Eastern and Northern Iowa, and on his last day on this earth, he spent time trying to catch the perfect trout.  On the sidelines of the three F’s, you could throw in his lifelong support of the Iowa Hawkeyes.

His family includes his wife, Kristine; their children, Keri Speidel (Lonnie) and Kort Koser (Brianna); grandchildren, Baylor, Brody, Brooks, and Colby; his sister, Karen Freeman (Doug); mother-in-law, Mary Wilson; and brother-in-law, Gary Wilson (Jan) and sister-in-law, Sheri Coate (Loren).

Steve was preceded in death by his parent, Mort and Ruth, and brother, Bob Koser.