Gene Koser

Eugene Richard Koser

 

Here is the obituary that will appear in the newspaper tomorrow:

 

 

MANSFIELD:  Eugene "Gene" R. Koser, 75, died on October 5, 2009, at the home of his son in Millersburg after battling pancreatic cancer for three and a half months. 

He was born to Alvin & Loretta Koser on October 15, 1933 in Norwalk, and lived the first part of his life in Plymouth, where he graduated from high school in 1951.  He attended Nyack Missionary College for three years before returning to Plymouth where he worked in the family grocery store, Koser’s Market, until 1978.  For six years, he worked in Florida, where he owned a newspaper delivery service until he returned to the area in 1984.  From that point until he retired in 1998, he managed the office of his son, Eugene Richard “Rick” Koser, M.D.

Gene married Shirley Joan Bloom in 1954.  She preceded him in death in 1960.  In 1965, he married Sharon Ruth Witzky, who never left his side over that last three and a half months. Gene always said that he was fortunate to have been married to two wonderful women in his lifetime.

Gene was a member of First Alliance Church in Mansfield where he served faithfully as missionary treasurer for years.  Later, in retirement, he enjoyed worshiping his Lord at the Chapel of Christian Faith in The Villages, Florida.

Since retirement, he & Sharon spent half of their time in The Villages where he enjoyed the sunshine, walking, biking, riding his golf cart, and having the kids and grandkids come to visit.  He liked to play the stock market and was pretty successful at it.  He never thought of himself as very smart, but his family all thought of him as one of the most intelligent men they knew.  His children all respected him as a man of integrity and hard work.  Following God was the most important thing in his life. 

In addition to his wife, he is survived by a brother and sister-in-law Dave and Ruth Koser of Arcadia, California, a sister and brother-in-law Darlene and Dennis Bartlett of Orlando, Florida; five children and their spouses, Rick and Tammy Koser of Millersburg, Mark and Lori Koser of Flowery Branch, Georgia, Randy and Sue Koser of Warsaw, Indiana, Lisa and Scott Falkenberg of Wooster, and Michael and Alisa Koser of Escondido, California as well as 17 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren and the expected arrival of a great grand daughter in January.  Gene was greatly disappointed that he would not get to see them all grow up.  Also surviving are nieces, nephews, numerous extended family members and a host of friends in Christ.   

In addition to his first wife Shirley, he was preceded in death by his brother, Alvin Paul Koser and his parents.

Visitation will be Friday, October 9, 2009 from 5-8 p.m. in the Lexington Avenue Snyder Funeral Home.  A graveside service for the family and friends will take place at Greenlawn Cemetery in Plymouth on Saturday, October 10, at 10:30 a.m. followed by a Celebration of his Life at Berlin Christian Fellowship, 5382 County Rd. 201, Millersburg, at 3 p.m.  Officiating will be Gene’s brother The Rev. Dave Koser, his former pastor The Rev. Charles Holmes, and his son The Rev. Mark Koser.  

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made to either Hospice of Holmes County, 931 Wooster Road, Millersburg, Ohio 44654 or to Beulah Beach Church Camp, 6101 W. Lake Rd., Vermilion, Ohio 44089. 

Online condolences to the Koser family may be made by visiting:www.snyderfuneralhomes.com. Those who want to go to the graveside service on Friday should meet at Snyder Funeral Home on Lexington Ave. at 9:45 a.m.

Funeral Arrangements and Obituary

Thank you for the outpouring of love that you have shown to our family thru cards, emails, food, phone calls, etc!! We are overwhelmed with gratitude. Listed below are the funeral arrangements. Later today or tomorrow, you will be able to view dad's obituary at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com under the name Eugene Koser. Thanks for continuing to lift our family up in prayer during this very difficult week!

Friday 10/9 Calling Hours from 5-8pm at Snyder Funeral Home, 2553 Lexington Ave, Mansfield

Saturday 10/10 Graveside service at 10:30am in Plymouth, Ohio. Anyone planning on attending the graveside service can meet at Snyder Funeral home to travel to Plymouth together. Check back later today for specific time to meet.

Saturday 10/10 Memorial service at 3 pm at the Berlin Christian Fellowship church, 5382 CR 201, Berlin, Ohio.

When I Cry

Lisa came across this powerful song.  It's called "When I Cry".  Click here to see the video.

"Making a list of all the good things you've done for me. Lord, I've never been one to complain, but right now i'm lost and I can't find my way. My world's come apart and it's breaking my heart, but it helps to know that your heart is breaking too.

When I cry, you cry, when i hurt you hurt, and when i've lost someone, it takes a piece of you too. When i fall on my face, you fill me with grace, cuz nothing breaks your heart or tears you apart like when i cry.

alone in the dark, face in my hand, crying out to you. Lord, there's never been a time in my life where there's so much at stake so much to lose, but I trust it to you cuz you'll bring me thru and it helps me to know that i'm not alone

When I cry, you cry, when i hurt you hurt, and when i've lost someone, it takes a piece of you too. When i fall on my face, you fill me with grace, cuz nothing breaks your heart or tears you apart like when i cry.

you're the one who calmed the raging sea, you're the one who made the blind to see. you look thru all of heaven and eternity and thru it all you saw me.

When I cry, you cry, when i hurt you hurt, and when i've lost someone, it takes a piece of you too. When i fall on my face, you fill me with grace, cuz nothing breaks your heart or tears you apart like when i cry." 

Dad's Last Day

At 5:30a this morning, Mom got me out of bed.  Dad's breathing had changed sometime after midnite.  When I got up to his room, it seemed his breathing was much more shallow, just using his diaphragm and none of his chests muscles, but regular.  I wasn't sure what to do about work because I had a very early case scheduled.  We all decided that this could go on for a day or more and that I should go on to work.  I leaned over and kissed him good-bye, saying, "I love you, Dad.  I've gotta go to work.  I'll see you when I get home."  As I said this, he opened his eyes and his breathing which had been totally regular, completely stopped.  He was gone.  I think all of us in the room had a mixture of emotions: relief that it was finally over and that he went peacefully and grief that he was gone.  We are so thankful that we know that he has now met his savior face to face.  How could we live without that hope?

Later, Gene Burchill came over from Mansfield to take his body to the funeral home.  It felt good to have someone who loved Dad take him away. 

We had a couple of odd things happen.  Last week, Dad, during one of those times when he was seeing things we couldn't, said, "Look at that screen.  It says Gene Koser Dies.  666."  He thought that everyone could see it.  We were all a little worried.  Was he talking about the antichrist?  A couple of hours after Dad died, Tammy asked me what time Dad had died.  I told her he died at 6:06.  I wonder if God had showed him ahead of time the time of his death.  Later this morning, Kaley texted me and asked what time grandpa had died.  I told her.  She said the she woke up at the same time in Tulsa, thinking that something was wrong and couldn't go back to sleep for an hour. 

Mom is doing as well as could be expected.  She was up all nite and is now sleeping.  Of course, she is feeling the great loss, but she is also thanking God for his goodness in all of this. 

Right now, we are planning on calling hours in Mansfield at Snyder's on Lexington Ave. on Friday from 5-8p.  We are going to do the graveside service on Saturday morning at 10:30a tentatively at the Plymouth cemetery, and then the memorial service will be at the Berlin Christian Fellowship church in Berlin, Ohio, at 3p.  We will give more details when they firm up.  In lieu of flowers, we would ask that you make contributions to Holmes County Hospice, 931 Wooster Rd., Millersburg, Ohio 44654 or to Beulah Beach Church Camp, 6101 W. Lake Rd., Vermilion, Ohio, 44089.  Thank you all for your prayers. 

Sunday Evening Prayer Request

Dad is struggling, and we need you to pray that the Lord would be merciful to him and allow him to go gently home to Glory. Right now his breathing is labored....it sounds as if he has to clear his throat but can't. This afternoon he had a period of 'featherlight' breathing and was very peaceful. That is what we are asking you to pray right now. It is so hard to see him this way and not be able to tell if he is in pain or needs something else. There is no way mom will get any sleep tonight if his breathing continues the way that it is. We are trusting his care to the One who loves him most!

Sunday, October 4

What a mix of feelings as I watch Dad in his struggle to stay with us. Inside his seemingly frail body is a huge desire to survive.  He has been basically peaceful for at least the last 24 hour, and he has communicated very little.  Yesterday he had a popsicle in the afternoon, but has not been awake enough since to take anything by mouth.  At times, he will moan but we can't decide if he is in pain, trying to cough, or trying to communicate.  It is frustrating trying to figure it out.  We've had none of the belligerent behavior we saw earlier this week since Friday.  The hospice nurse who visited this morning feels that he is in the process of 'active dying' which would mean that we are no longer coasting but on the downhill stretch of this journey. This means we are probably in the last few days of Dad's life.  We are praying that God will take him soon, and ask that you will pray with us. 

We have accepted a cash offer on the Florida house without contingencies and due to close in December. It isn't as much as we would have hoped, but we are so grateful to have this settled.  We passed the offer on to Dad on Friday, not sure if he was comprehending, but then he responded that the offer wasn't high enough.  We had to laugh. 

I personally am struggling a lot with my emotions now, as the reality and finality of this is hitting home. I look at his now emaciated hands that once hugged me, that bathed me as a child, that gave me a well-desired swat once in awhile and mourn that they will not do so again.  I wish that I could turn on a switch or suck the disease out of his body so that he could speak to me with clarity one more time.  Though he still breathes, I feel like we have lost him already, and though I am thankful for a process that allowed us to say good-bye and for him to prepare for death, I hate this disease that has robbed him of  mind, his body, and his life. 

This week felt very overwhelming. It seemed that Dad had an almost endless supply of energy, up continually at night and in the daytime, and with the confusion, we couldn't leave him alone.   We weren't sure whether we could continue to keep him at home because of it.  But now that he is sleeping almost non-stop, we also are able to re-charge and catch our breath.  Please pray for strength to finish out this now four month long battle. 

He Knows Dad's Name

The other day on the way home from visiting dad, I heard this song on the radio, and it just made me think about how right now it's hard for dad to tell us exactly how he feels, and he's frustrated and confused, but he's not confused on his love for God. At times he cries out "God, please help me." This song reminded me that God knows how dad feels, He hears dad cry out and He knows his name....

"He Knows My Name"

I have a maker. He formed my heart before even time began. My life is in His hands. He knows my name. He knows my every thought. He sees each tear that falls and He hears me when I call. I have a Father. He calls me His own. He'll never leave me, no matter where I go. He knows my name. He knows my every thought. He sees each tear that falls, and He hears me when I call.

Randy and Sue came last night, and they actually relieved mom and Tammy by sleeping in the room with dad last night and letting them get a good night's sleep. They woke mom up only to give him his medicine. This was a much needed rest for mom and Tam! Sue said dad had a relatively good night. He slept thru most of the night. Please be praying about the Florida house today. There is an offer on the table and possibly another one coming today!!!

Love Never Dies

I know that many of you have lifted us up in prayer today, and I know that we have had a direct answer to your prayers...this morning in my update, dad didn't want mom to help him in any way. He thought she was the enemy. However, sometime early afternoon, he pulled her close to him and was telling her how much he loved her and remembering past times like when he proposed to her and said they needed to pray about something that we couldn't quite make out, but he started praying just the very sweetest prayer. He had his hand behind mom's neck and kept kissing her, and loving on her and didn't want her to leave him. I sat there sobbing, watching this love reunion and thanking Jesus for this special gift that He gave to mom today. What a blessing and special memory!

Go to God in Prayer

This is what the hospice nurse told dad to do when he is having a bad day. That really seemed to calm him down. There is no doubt about it, these are some of the most difficult days that we have faced as a family. Dad is still confused, at times very agitated, and paranoid. The hardest part is that the ones he loves (especially mom) are the ones that he suspects are doing "bad things" to him. We are just trying to keep the medicine regulated so that we don't have extreme episodes of agitation. Pray especially for mom...she cares for dad around the clock and it's very painful for her to watch him suffer with this. Thanks for your continued support and prayers. I can't imagine going thru this without the faith that we have that Jesus is with us each step of the way.

We need prayer!!

We have had a very long day with dad. He woke up from resting @3pm and ever since then, he has had severe paranoia, confusion- psychotic. He is very difficult to control or reason with. He really felt like we were out to get him today instead of help him. Multiple calls to hospice who in turn called the doc for advice, and you would not believe the amount of medicine that it took to finally calm him down, and who knows how long that calmness will last. Please, we are asking that you pray that God clears the fog from dad's head, and that he can remain calm and rest comfortably. Pray a hedge of protection around dad and mom both and all of us that try to care for him. We are all exhausted, both emotionally and physically. Pray that everyone will be able to sleep soundly tonight without incident.