Kit Carson County, Colorado
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Kit Carson County Pioneers:

William R. Koeller, 6 South 47 West



1942 Kiowa County, Colorado "Miss Gladys Koeller and WIlliam Koeller of Los ANgeles California, arrived in Eads on the streamliner for a short visit with their parnets, Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Koeller of Sheridan Lake. MIss Koeller is employed by the Union Ice Company in Los Angeles. Mr. Koeller has been employed by the Douglas Aircraft Co. in Santa Monica for the past year. He has enlisted in the U.S. Cavalry and will report for entry soon."

September 1960 "Mrs. William Koeller and chldren were plesantly surprised when her mother and sister came out from Cheyenne Wells and Sharon Springs Kansas to spend the day with them. Her mother, Mrs. Steinke, is in much better health."

December 1960 "Mr. and Mrs. William Koeller are announcing the arrival of a son, Kelvin born November 21, th, born on his brother Karl's first birthday."

1966 Kirk items in the Yuma Pioneer "The William Koeller family received a message that his father, W. J. Koeller of Sheridan Lake was critically ill, and had been taken by ambulance to Eads wheree underwent an emergency appendectormy."
July 21, 1966

William's father William J. Koeller 1883-1966 is buried in Akron, Colorado # 75517182, with Margaret 1891-1984.
William claimed a 54-acre tract in 18, 6 South, 47W in 1969, via a "Public Land Sale."


1972 "FOR SALE - 2 yr. old Reg Angus bulls. Ranch 8 1/2 miles south of Joes. William Koeller, Vona."

November 1972 "Evelyn Koeller and alan Weiss were married at Emmanuel Lutheran Church north of Bethune Saturday."

William 1921-2010 is buried in Bethune, Colorado # 118105329, with Katherine # 106923544.

"William R. “Bill” Koeller of Vona, Colorado was born on August 27, 1921 in Sheridan Lake, Colorado to William J. and Margaret Koeller. He was the second of three children. He left this earth peacefully, at home, to begin his new life in Heaven on January 16, 2010.
Bill attended school in Sheridan Lake, Colorado and graduated from high school there. He was baptized and confirmed as a teenager.
Bill was in the Air Force for a short time and was given a medical discharge. He returned to Colorado and farmed south of Cheyenne Wells, Colorado. He met, fell in love with and married Katherine Steinike on June 6, 1948. He and Katie lived in a small trailer house in Cheyenne Wells for 3 years and then bought a farm and ranch northeast of Vona, where he lived until his death. To this union five children were born. Bill raised a herd of registered Angus Cattle, and showed and sold bulls throughout the area. He was a member of and served as president of the Eastern Plains Angus Association. He was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church of Bethune, Colorado and served on the church board and several committees throughout the years.
Bill enjoyed farming. It was only in the last year that he had to finally give up farming completely because of his declining health. He was a good farmer. He also enjoyed driving his pickup and going to see Katie at Grace Manor in the last few weeks. He also enjoyed spending time with his family and he especially enjoyed watching his three little great grandsons play.
Bill will be sadly missed by his wife Katie of 61 ½ years, his children Evelyn and Allan Weiss of Bethune, Kenneth Koeller of Kermit, Texas, Karl and Katrina Koeller of Grand Island, NE, grandchildren Kendra and Robert Fickes of Everett, Washington; Alice and Kevin Magrino of Colorado Springs, CO; Bruce and Nichol Weiss of Burlington, CO; Sarah and Bryan Erker of Burlington, CO and Austin and Delainey Koeller of Grand Island, NE; and three great grandsons Caleb Weiss and Prestin and Brayden Erker all of Burlington, CO. He also leaves one brother and one sister, several nieces, nephews and cousins, and many many friends. He was preceded in death by two sons Keith and Kelvin Koeller and his parents.
Dad you will live forever in our hearts and we look forward to our reunion with you in Heaven."


"Katherine Clara 'Katie' Koeller was born on March 18, 1922 in Cheyenne Wells, Colorado to Herbert and Alma Steinike. She was the second of six children. She left this earth to begin her new life in heaven on her 91st birthday, March 18, 2013.

Katie attended school in Cheyenne Wells and graduated from high school there. She was baptized and confirmed at Grace Lutheran Church in Cheyenne Wells.
Katie worked at the newspaper office in Cheyenne Wells for three years. She then enlisted in the Navy and served her country for 2 ½ years.
While in the Navy, Katie was stationed at the Naval Base in Oakland, California as a Physical Therapy Technician. Her greatest thrill while in the Navy was marching down 5th Avenue in New York City, with other WAVES, on Navy Day.
After being discharged from the Navy, Katie worked at Montgomery Ward in California until early 1948, before moving back to Cheyenne Wells.
Katie met, fell in love with, and married William Koeller at Grace Lutheran Church in Cheyenne Wells on June 6, 1948. Her dream was to marry a Christian man and live on a farm; both of these dreams came true. She and Bill lived in a small trailer house in Cheyenne Wells for three years and then bought a farm and ranch northeast of Vona. To this union, five children were born.
Katie was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church. She was active in the Ladies Aid and made many quilt tops for Lutheran World Relief. She taught children’s Sunday School, both at Immanuel and earlier, in California. She also led the adult Bible Study group at Immanuel.
Katie was a hard worker. She raised a big garden each year and canned and froze hundreds of quarts of fruits and vegetables, as well as raising chickens every year. She also enjoyed crocheting and reading. She made hundreds of crocheted stocking caps for needy children.
In December 2010, Katie moved to Grace Manor Care Center because of declining health. She looked forward to leaving the nursing home to join her family for holidays and to celebrate birthdays. She enjoyed these days and dearly loved being around her great grandsons.
Katie will be sadly missed by one daughter Evelyn and husband Allan Weiss of Bethune, Colorado, two sons; Kenneth Koeller of Kermit, Texas and Karl and Katrina Koeller of Grand Island, Nebraska, grandchildren; Kendra and Robert Fickes, Lake Stevens, Washington, Alice and Kevin Magrino, Colorado Springs, Colorado, Bruce and Nichol Weiss, Burlington, Colorado, Bryan and Sarah Erker, Burlington, Colorado, Austin and Delainey Koeller, Grand Island, Nebraska, and five great grandsons; Caleb and Bryson Weiss, Prestin and Brayden Erker and Edward Fickes; and daughter-in-law Dianne Koeller and Allen Dean of Pueblo West, Colorado. She also leaves two brothers and one sister, several nieces and nephews and many, many friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband Bill, two sons, Keith and Kelvin, her parents and two sisters.
Mom, you will live forever in our hearts and we look forward to our reunion with you in heaven. "


Keith 1951-2006 is buried in Bethune "Keith was the son of William and Katherine (Steinike) Koeller. He attended school in Kirk and Joes, Colorado, and graduated from Liberty High School. Keith married the love of his life in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 16, 1990.
Keith was a long distance trucker and in addition to driving his truck he enjoyed riding his Harley motorcycles, going to Sturgis, working on computers, helping out with toy drives and other community needs and spending time with his family. He was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Bethune.
Keith was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents; two aunts; and his brother Kelvin.
He was survived by his wife; his parents; one daughter and her husband; two step sons; two step grandchildren; two brothers; one sister; many nieces and nephews and many, many friends."

Kelvin J. Koeller 1960-1996 is also buried in Bethune # 118830246.
"Kenneth William Koeller was born November 16, 1955 in Burlington, Colorado to William and Katherine (Steinike) Koeller. He passed away peacefully on November 2, 2014 at his home in Kermit, Texas.
Kenneth was baptized as an infant at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Stratton, Colorado and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Bethune, Colorado. He graduated from Liberty High School in Joes, Colorado.
Kenneth moved to Hugoton, Kansas after graduating from high school. He lived there several years, working in the oil fields as a roughneck, in and around that area. He moved to Kermit, Texas and then to Garden City, Kansas, working on oil drilling rigs there. He had really enjoyed living in Kermit, and eventually moved back and worked as a roughneck there again.
In late 2009, Kenneth suffered a stroke which left him disabled. He was an avid gun collector and enjoyed going to guns shows in the Kermit area. He lived in his home in Kermit until his death.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Keith and Kelvin.
He leaves to mourn his passing his sister and husband Evelyn and Allan Weiss, Bethune, Colorado, one brother and wife Karl and Katrina Koeller of Grand Island, Nebraska, nieces Alice and Kevin Magrino of Monument, Colorado, Sarah and Bryan Erker of Burlington, Colorado, Kendra and Robert Fikes of Lake Stevens, Washington, Delainey Koeller of Grand Island, Nebraska, and nephews Bruce and Nichol Weiss of Burlington, Colorado and Austin Koeller of Grand Island, Nebraska. He is also survived by 5 great nephews, several aunts, uncles, cousins, and many friends."


"Gladys M. Harvie, 91, moved to her heavenly home on Aug. 30, 2011. She was born on Jan. 8, 1920 near Freeport, Il to William I. and Margaret F. (Ehrmann) Koeller.
After graduating from high school in Sheridan Lake, CO in 1937, she attended Blair Business College in Colorado Springs. Upon earning an Executive Secretary Diploma, she then worked for Union Ice Co. in Van Nuys, CA until Jan. 1949. She was united in marriage to Osborne Otto Harvie at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Van Nuys on Feb. 7, 1949. After returning to Colorado in 1949, she established herself as a housewife and mother.She was baptized as a child of God on April 25, 1920, in Freeport, Il. and was confirmed as an adult on Oct. 4, 1942 at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church. She was currently a charter member of Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church in Elizabeth, CO. Survivors include her husband, Osborne Harvie of rural Kiowa; daughter, Sharon (David) Kindt, Hastings, NE; son, Steven Harvie, Fondis, CO; grandson, AT3 Nathan Kindt stationed at Virginia Beach, VA; brother, Harley (Edith) Koeller, Sheridan Lake, CO, sister-in-law, Katherine Koeller, Burlington, CO; niece, Evelyn Weiss; and nephews, Kenneth, Karl, Glen, Marvin and Larry Koeller.She is preceded in death by her parents; brother, William R. Koeller; one niece and two nephews.
Funeral services were held at Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church in Elizabeth. Interment was in Akron Cemetery, Akron, CO. "

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