Foster Koth

Foster Vern Koth, 95, of Monona, Iowa passed away Monday, January 12, 2015, at Triple Creek Retirement Community, Cincinnati, Ohio. 

Foster Vern Koth, son of Vern H. Koth and Tresa (Ames) Koth was born October 23, 1919, on a farm in Monona Township, Iowa.  He was baptized at Monona Methodist Church. Foster was educated in the Monona Schools.   

As a young man he worked for area farmers until he married Hildegard Weiss July 8, 1941, at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, Garnavillo.  He was herdsman at West Amana Colonies and the A.L. Killian farm, Cedar Rapids. In 1944, Foster and Hildegard started farming east of Farmersburg. They purchased a farm west of Monona in 1952 and enjoyed 35 years farming together until retiring in Monona in 1979. He was a good farmer and a kind and gentle man. He enjoyed being with his family and friends, playing cards and ballroom dancing, along with woodworking, gardening, and fishing. He was a member of an Anniversary Club, a group of eight couples all married in 1941. He and Hildegard enjoyed traveling in their retirement years, especially a European trip to visit Hildegard’s relatives in Germany.

Foster was a faithful member of St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, Monona, and a church council member. He served  his community on the Luana Creamery Board, 30 years on the Monona Telephone Board, and 14 years as president of the Monona Cemetery Association.  He was active in many local community events.

Those left to cherish his memory include his daughter, Karen Prunkard of Fairfield, Ohio; three grandchildren, Shawn (Kellie) Cordes, Todd (Cindy) Cordes, and Shelley Hinkle; four great-grandchildren, Renee Slaughter Busse, Angela Hinkle, Josh Cordes, Thomas Foster Cordes and one great-great-grandchild, Auron Slaughter.  

Foster was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; his brothers, Donald and Ray Koth; a sister, Marjorie Olson Anderson; son-in-law, Gary Prunkard and an infant son and daughter.  

Funeral services were held on Saturday, January 17, 2015, at 11 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Monona, Iowa. The Rev. Erika Kielstrup officiated. Burial followed in the Monona Cemetery, Monona, Iowa. Visitation was one hour before services at the church on Saturday.

Leonard – Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Monona, Iowa, is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be left with www.graufuneralhomes.com