Elizabeth M. Koster

Elizabeth M. Koster, 85, of Lambertville, Michigan, passed away peacefully on July 29, 2013. She was born on November 9, 1927 to Sarah (Fetter) and Henry Miller in Toledo, Ohio. She was formerly married to the late Edward Draheim. On November 21, 1968 she married Dr. Edward Koster.

Liz was fully engaged in life. She had a passion for music, art, travel, history, and her community. Early in life, Liz was introduced to piano. She attended Clay High School and graduated from DeVilbiss High School. She continued her musical education at the University of Toledo, earning a Bachelor of Music. She was a member and past President of Mu Phi Epsilon national music fraternity. Her love of classical music led her to master playing the harpsichord. Liz played many harpsichord recitals in the Toledo and Detroit area. She performed several times at the Toledo Museum of Art, Detroit Institute of Art, the University of Michigan, Oberlin College and the Detroit Community Music School. She continued her studies of the harpsichord at the Oberlin College Baroque Performance Institute, the University of Michigan School of Music and Detroit Community Music School Summer Harpsichord Performance Workshop. In 1985 Liz presented the all Bach Harpsichord recital at the Toledo Museum of Art in celebration of the Bach Tercentenary. Liz also enjoyed playing harpsichord recitals in her home for invited friends and guests.

In addition to performing, Liz was also very active in the music community. Liz was a member of the Toledo Symphony Board of Trustees. She was past President of the Toledo Symphony League and twice Vice President of music education. She was a member of Toledo Monday Musicale, and former member of Detroit Tuesday Musicale. She was a past board member of the Stearns Collection, an international musical instrument collection at the University of Michigan. Liz was a former member of the Toledo Opera Association Board of Trustees, and past President and Board member of the Toledo Opera Guild. She was co-founder of the Toledo Junior Opera Guild. She was also a member of the Late Bloomers Piano Club and very involved in the Toledo Youth Orchestra. Liz and her husband Ed were dedicated supporters of the Toledo Symphony Orchestra. They held season tickets for forty years and frequently opened their home for post-performance receptions for guest artists.

Liz was also eager to pass along her music skills to the next generation. She instructed hundreds of young piano students in her home, and also polished them with poise, stage, and manner instruction.

Liz's artistic talents expanded beyond the keyboard. She was also a skilled watercolorist. Her paintings have been displayed in area art shows and exhibits. All will miss Liz's original hand-painted Christmas cards with their special message, and her personalized invitations to gatherings in her home. As with her music, she involved herself in local artistic groups. She was a member of the prestigious Athena Society of women artists, founding member of the Bedford Community Arts Council, Toledo Artist Club, of which she was past President, and the Toledo Museum of Art. She participated in many events in the art community. In her later years she and a small group of female artist colleagues started "The Tuesday Morning Painters."

Liz's love of art and culture was deepened by her and Ed's extensive travel. The couple visited Russia, Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Greece, Austria, Italy, Jamaica, and China. On this continent, they visited Mexico, Canada, Nova Scotia and 47 of the 50 states.

Liz also involved herself in her community outside the arts. She was active in Toledo Day Nursery, Toledo League of Women Voters, Quest Garden Club, past President of the Toledo Garden Forum and a past member of the Governing Board of the Ability Center of Greater Toledo Auxiliary.

In her home community of Bedford Township, Michigan, she was known for her commitment to a cause, and her heart belonged to the Bedford Township Library. Liz gave significant time to the library. She served on the Bedford Library Advisory Board. As a member of Bedford Township Library Building committee, she was involved in the library's comprehensive improvement and expansion that was completed in 2004. The stained glass art pieces that decorate the library's lobby, Liz dedicated to the memory of her late husband, Dr. Edward Koster. Liz was also instrumental in the fundraising to obtain the grand piano that resides in the library's community room. Several of her watercolors are exhibited in the permanent art collection of the Bedford Public Library. She was Chairperson of the Monroe County Library System Board of Directors, founding member of Friends of Monroe County Library System and a member of the Michigan Woodlands Library Co-operative Governing Board. As a political appointment, she sat on the Bedford Township Board of Zoning Appeals.

In addition to her parents, Liz was preceded in death by her husband of 40 years, Edward; sons, James and Robert "Robbie"; sister, Miriam Reineck, and brother, Wilbur Miller. She is survived by step-children, Barbara Koster of Fort Lauderdale FL, and Edward Koster of Ann Arbor MI; nieces, Nancy (Bill) Nopper of Oregon OH, and Sara (Doug) Longenecker of Toledo OH; a host of grand-nieces and nephews and many dear, close friends.

Liz's family would like to thank Heartland Hospice of Waterville, especially Trudie and Kathy, and the entire staff at Southern Care Hospice of Mercy St. Vincent's Medical Center for all of their care and compassion.
Liz's life will be celebrated at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 18, 2013 at Bedford Library, 8575 Jackman Rd. in Temperance, MI.

For those wishing to make memorial donations in Liz's name, please consider the Friends of the Bedford Library, 8575 Jackman Rd. Temperance MI 48182; Toledo Symphony Remembrance Fund or Toledo Youth Orchestra c/o The Toledo Symphony, 1838 Parkwood Ave. Toledo OH 43604; Bedford Community Arts Council, c/o Bedford Township Library 8575 Jackman Road, Temperance MI 48182; and Toledo Artist Club c/o Toledo Botanical Gardens, 5403 Elmer Drive Toledo OH 43615 .