Esther Klosterboer

Esther (Buskohl) Klosterboer died on December 20, 2022, at St Francis Manor in Grinnell, Iowa.

Esther was born January 17, 1931, on the family farm near Holland, Iowa, the daughter of John and Helen (Halfwassen) Buskohl. She graduated from Grundy Center High School in 1949. Esther married Vernon Klosterboer on January 19, 1951, in Manilla, Iowa.

Growing up, Esther was a member of Colfax Center Presbyterian Church in Grundy County. When she married, she transferred her membership to Bethany Presbyterian Church in Grundy Center.

After living their entire lives in Grundy Center, Esther and Vernon moved to Newton, Iowa in 2013. Esther loved her family. She took care of Vernon, and checked in on her children frequently. Doting on her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and other important people in her life was always a top priority. She devoted herself to helping others especially when they were in need.

A housewife in every sense of the word, Esther was an expert at crocheting and sewing, even making Rose’s wedding dress and reconstructing Larry’s work jeans. Esther was proud of her son, Bill, who served 6 years in the US Navy. She enjoyed cooking and baking and was a champion salad maker - we are not certain how many TONS of potato salad she made for the Grundy Center Amvets! In addition to taking care of her children Esther was a 4-H leader and caregiver for her parents before they passed away. In her later years she dedicated much of her time to cleaning houses and ironing for others. Her volunteer activities included deacon at church, funeral flower attendant, and hospital auxiliary member. She will be remembered for playing cards and darts, her love of Dolly Parton and all things glittery and rainbow colored.

Esther is survived by her daughter Rose Evans of Newton, son Bill (Laurie) of Lincoln, NE, and son Larry (Paula) of Newton. Grandchildren Reid (Liz) Evans, Pella, Nick Klosterboer, Honolulu, HI, Aaron Klosterboer (Shelley), Lincoln, NE, Megan (Boris) Cruickshank, Syracuse, NE, Kayla (Kyle) Simpson, Newton, Whitney (Cody) Cruickshank, Lincoln, NE, and Evan (Kourtney) Klosterboer, Newton. Great-grandchildren are McKenna, Parker, Graham, Royal, Dorian, Draven, Dominic, Chason, Christian, Cash, Landon, Jackson, Elise, Kayson, and Karsyn. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews and one sister-in-law Dorothy Westerman.

Esther was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, two brothers, Harvey and Johnnie Buskohl, and two sisters, Jennie Buseman and Annie Mae Buskohl. A nephew, Kendall Buskohl, and a niece, Nancy Butler also preceded her passing.

A service will be later this Spring at Bethany Presbyterian Church. At that time, the service will also memorialize her husband of almost 70 years, Vernon, who passed away on September 12, 2020. Inurnment will be at Rose Hill Cemetery in Grundy Center.