Duane Andrew Kosters
October, 18 1950 – August, 23 2021
DUANE ANDREW KOSTERS, 70, of Edmond, OK, was called home by our Lord on August 23, 2021, with his faithful and loving wife by his side and holding his hand, as he crossed over into his eternal reward. He will be forever remembered by his many family and friends who loved him and will dearly miss him. Even though we believe he was called too early, God has a plan of which we cannot know, to work for His good. "Entrust your loved ones to Me; release them into My protective care. They are much safer with Me than in your clinging hands. When you release loved ones to Me, you are free to cling to My hand. As you entrust others into My care, I am free to shower blessings upon them. My Presence will go with them wherever they go, and I will give them rest. This same Presence stays with you, as you relax and place your trust in Me. Watch and see what I will do."
Duane was born October 18, 1950 in Mobridge, SD, the son of Peter "Pete" and Theresa "Tracy" (Raba) Kosters. He attended Selby Grade School and graduated from Selby High School in 1968. He attended one year at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, SD. He served our country in the US Air Force for four years at a remote mobile bomb scoring site in Bismarck, ND. From that site, he was assigned temporary duty assignments with six months served in Vietnam; six months in the Philippines; and other various locations around the United States as a Radar Technician, Radar Operator. During his duty in Vietnam, he was most proud of being part of a group of radar technicians who taught precise maneuvers to the bomber pilots through radar directed bombing runs. This spot-on bombing resulted in North Vietnam finally conceding to release American prisoners of war. After his Honorable Discharge from the US Air Force in January 1974, he returned home and received a diploma from a self-taught course through National Technical Schools for Master Course Color Television Servicing in which he built his own color television. In 1982, Duane attended Jamestown College, Jamestown, ND, and eventually transferred to Central State University (now known as University of Central Oklahoma), Edmond, OK graduating May 10, 1991 with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with an Option in Management.
While off-duty in Bismarck, ND, Duane decided to join the tradition of the local teenagers and college kids of "dragging" Main Street. After one of his shifts, Duane and an Air Force buddy were riding their motorcycles when they stopped at the teen gathering spot (which was the Sweetheart Bakery parking lot), and called out to a carload of girls to stop and chat with them. This was the night Duane met the love and "sweetheart" of his life, Deborah "Debbie" Glatt. On April 17, 1974, these two sweethearts married at St. Anne Catholic Church in Bismarck, ND.
They made their first home in Bismarck in 1974. Duane was employed by Cable TV and then The Bureau of Reclamation as an Apprentice Electrician. In 1976, Duane was hired by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as an Electronics Technician, which prompted their move to Jamestown, ND in 1977. When the FAA began to restructure their organization, Duane applied for Basic Instructor Training at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City, OK, and was accepted as an instructor in NavAids, ILS, and eventually, the HOST computer system. This moved the family to Oklahoma City in July of 1985.
Duane retired from the FAA in Oklahoma City in February 2007 and started a contract career for the ERAM Air Traffic Control project and has been employed by ATSA, Keybridge, and ECS. This job took him and Debbie to many places between 2007 and 2012: Oklahoma City, OK; Rockville, MD; Palmdale, CA; Houston, TX; Olathe, KS; and Jacksonville, FL.
After his retirement, Duane was diagnosed with prostate cancer in July 2016. After treatments of surgery and radiation therapy, Duane was finally able to "ring the bell" as a prostate cancer survivor in December 2016!
Following his cancer battle, there were several things in life that became more important and more meaningful for Duane. These things were his family: especially his children, their spouses and his 8 grandchildren. There didn't need to be a reason for Duane to drop everything and spend time with his family or his friends. Most times, asking something as simple as, "Hey, let's go grab dinner!", or "Can you help me fix this?", would be a welcome excuse for him to spend time together. He loved sharing his extensive knowledge of all things technical, woodworking, electrical, plumbing, and cars with his sons and his sons-in-law. If he didn't know about something, he would learn it, just so he could help and teach. This put him in his "zone", with every challenge of learning something new. Duane also spent many years volunteering with the Boy Scouts at the local and the District Council levels. He also enjoyed volunteering with Debbie at the TimeOut ministry at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church every Wednesday. TimeOut is a program for seniors to enjoy fellowship with their peers. He also enjoyed his coffee club with "the guys" which consisted of church friends and several retired buddies from the FAA. Duane valued his professional and personal friendships.
Duane had a special gift for making people feel welcome and seen. His quick-wit and sense of humor endeared people to him. He was known for his love of James Bond and Bob Hope movies; his enthusiasm for Mustangs and classic cars; his love of tinkering with any and all gadgets; charcoal grilling; cooking breakfast; his collections of movies and "stuff" (he always had that spare part anyone seemed to need!); his big hugs; and the way he loved his family and friends and made them feel special. He enjoyed teasing his children and grandchildren and making them laugh with his jokes. We will miss his endless knowledge and ability to see things in a different way, and his infectious smile and laughter.
Duane is survived by his wife, Deborah "Debbie", his children: son, Daren Kosters, and his wife, Laura, of Oklahoma City, OK; daughter, Diane Baker, and her husband, Troy, of Edmond, OK; son, Donovan Kosters, and his wife, Whitney, of Edmond, OK; daughter, Deidra Sexton, and her husband, Fred, of Edmond, OK; and five granddaughters: Isabella Kosters, Alexis Kosters, Tenley Baker, Daltyn Baker, and Imogen Sexton; and three grandsons: Leander Sexton, Roman Kosters and Leo Kosters; and his brothers, sisters, and in-laws: Virginia Orr, Novato, CA; Laurena Idler, Selby, SD; Jerry and Elaine Kosters, Selby, SD; Florence Karst, Selby, SD; Gerald "CJ" Niemiller, Selby, SD; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, loved ones and friends.
Duane was preceded in death by his parents, Peter "Pete" Henry and Theresa "Tracy" Juliana (Raba) Kosters; and his brothers: Leander Kosters, Roger Kosters, his sister, Patricia "Patty" Niemiller, and brothers-in-law: John Orr, Robert "Bob" Idler, and Roy Karst.
The family wishes to thank all of Duane's family and friends for the outpouring of love, support and prayers during this time. It has been so comforting to hear your memories of Duane, and to realize the impact on all the lives for whom Duane made a difference during his lifetime. The family is also grateful for the exceptional and professional care and concern demonstrated by Duane's medical teams at Mercy Hospital and Select Specialty Hospital during his final earthly battle with COVID-19.
Public Viewing and Visitation will be held 1:00pm – 8:00pm on Tuesday, August 31, 2021, at Matthews Funeral Home, 601 S. Kelly, Edmond, OK, 73003.
Wake Service will be held at 6:00pm on Tuesday, August 31, 2021, at Matthews Funeral Home, 601 S. Kelly, Edmond, OK, 73003. We will be live streaming this Wake in an effort to accommodate those people that wish to attend but feel they should not due to health regulations. To watch the service CLICK HERE to go to our YouTube page. Click on 'Videos', then 'Live Streams'.
Funeral Service will be held at 10:00am on Wednesday, September 1, 2021, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 900 S. Littler, Edmond, OK, 73034. We will be live streaming this service in an effort to accommodate those people that wish to attend but feel they should not due to health regulations. To watch the service please use this link: https://youtu.be/8QQF77zN17M
Interment will immediately follow the funeral, by procession, at Gracelawn Cemetery, 1407 North Broadway, Edmond, OK, 73083.
A memorial fund has been set up to accept donations in support of the causes close to Duane's heart: Duane A. Kosters Memorial Fund, c/o Oklahoma City Community Foundation, 1000 N. Broadway, Oklahoma City, OK, 73102. An Online Giving option is also available at www.occf.org.