Edward Koster, M.D.

Edward H. Koster, M.D.
October 5, 1922 - January 28, 2007

Edward Hewitt Koster, M.D., died Sunday, January 28, 2007 in Flower Hospital, at the age of 84. He was born October 5, 1922 to the Reverend Edward Herman and Marie (Meyer) Koster in Chicago, Illinois. Following the Reverend's ministry calls, the family moved to Iowa, New Jersey, Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan. In 1941-42, Edward attended the University of Wisconsin in Fon du Lac and Hope College in Holland, Michigan. He was inducted into the United States Navy June 29, 1943 and graduated from Midshipman School, Columbia College, New York City, attaining the rank of Lieutenant, Junior Grade. He then attended Mine Warfare School, Yorktown, and Virginia Mine Craft Training Center, Little Creek, Virginia. Edward was then sent to Holandea, New Guinea; Manus, the Admiralty Islands in the South Pacific and commanded the mine sweeping craft, Y.M.S. 405 (Yard Mine Sweeper) at Singly Point, Caveti, Manila in the Philippine Islands. He was granted an honorable discharge from the Navy May 28, 1946.

After the war, Edward graduated from Dennison University, Granville, Ohio with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1947. He received his Doctor of Medicine degree from Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1951. Edward went to Blodgett Memorial Hospital, Grand Rapids, Michigan, completing his internship there on June 30, 1952. Edward received his National Medical Board Certification July 7, 1952 and the State of Ohio Medical Board Certification one year later on June 16, 1953. Edward was awarded Life Membership from Temple University School of Medicine November 1, 1951.

Dr. Edward Koster was in a private practice in Falmouth, Kentucky from 1952-54. He then moved to Ohio and began a private practice in West Toledo, continuing to practice until 1967.

On September 1, 1967, Edward accepted the post of medical Director to the Chevrolet Division of General Motors on Alexis Road. He continued his position with General Motors when the company became Hydramatic and then Powertrain, retiring March 1, 1989.

To further his Occupational Medical Training, he received certificates from the Hearing Loss Seminar, Colby College, Maine on August 1, 1972; The American Occupational Medical Association on November 9, 1977; West Virginia occupational Lung Disease on March 10, 1978; St. Vincent Vascular Seminar in December 1979; the American Occupational Medical Association Seminar in Toronto, Canada in April 1982 the Medical College of Ohio Ergonomics on February 17, 1987 and General Motors Seminars in Epcott Center, Orlando, Florida, Savannah, Georgia and California. Edward also attended many world seminars in London, England in 1975; The Greek Islands; Moscow; Tashkent; Bukara and Leningrad, Russia in the 1980's and Curacao in the Netherlands Antilles.

Edward received an award for 50 years of dedicated service from the Gray Nuns Sisters of Mercy and the Administration and Medical Staff of St. Vincent medical center on February 20, 2003.

Ed and his wife, Elizabeth traveled to Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Italy, Yugoslavia, Jamaica, Mexico, Canada, Nova Scotia and 47 of the 50 United States including Hawaii.

Ed was an avid music lover, dragging classical recordings in his handmade padded case throughout his duties in the South Pacific during WWII.

Perhaps one of the oldest supporters of the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, Ed and Liz have held season tickets for at least 40 years. They were also season ticket holders to the Peristyle Series for many years.

Ed was proud of the two large Klipshorn Speakers he built for their new home in Lambertville, Michigan in 1968, with a classical record collection numbering in the hundreds all of which he could recognize. Ed also built an 8 foot harpsichord from scratch and later did some finish building on a big French double manual harpsichord purchased for his wife, Elizabeth in 1978. Recently Ed built a big French Hubbard harpsichord, given to them by Michael and Ann Stranahan. He kept his wife's 4 harpsichords tuned and in working order, moving them to many environs in Toledo, Oberlin College, Detroit, Michigan and the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Dr. Koster is survived by his wife of 40 years, Elizabeth Mary (Miller) Koster; son, Edward S. Koster of Ann Arbor, MI; daughter, Barbara K. Koster of Ft. Lauderdale, FL; stepson, Robert H. Draheim of Tucsan, AZ; sister, Janet Albrecht of Oxford, OH; nephew, Marc Albrecht of NE; step-nieces, Sara (Douglas) Longenecker and Nancy (William) Nopper; many friends, and his 2 little favorite Shi-Tzus, Kissy and Kandy.

Dr. Koster was preceded in death by his parents, the Reverend Edward and Mrs. Marie Koster.

The Koster Family wish to thank the extremely capable and loving people of Heartland Home and Healthcare Hospice and Aspen Grove, Lambertville, MI and all of Edward's caring and supportive physicians, especially Dr. Christopher Bates and special helpful friends Bob and Connie Dietrich and Les Nearpas.

A Memorial Service will be held, Saturday, February 3, 2007 at the First Unitarian Church (Collingwood Blvd. at Bancroft), beginning at 3:00 p.m. with the Reverend Gary Blaine presiding.

Memorials may be made to the Toledo Symphony Remembrance Fund c/o Toledo Symphony, 1838 Parkwood Ave., Suite 310 Toledo, OH 43624; the Toledo Artists' Club, c/o Toledo Botanical Gardens, 5403 Elmer Dr. Toledo, OH 43615 or to the Bedford Community Arts Council c/o Bedford Branch Library, 8575 Jackman Rd. Temperance, MI 48182.

Arrangements handled by Newcomer Funeral Home, 4150 W. Laskey Rd. (419-473-0300).

Expressions of sympathy may be made at www.NewcomerFamily.com