Janet Jean (Barnett) Koster was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, to Edward J. and Pearl Gay (Elliott) Barnett on April 18, 1934. She died on November 10, 2022, at the Mitchell County Hospital in Beloit, Kansas, at the age of 88.
When she was four years old, her family moved to Concordia, Kansas, and lived several places as her dad worked for the Missouri Pacific Railroad. She attended schools in Concordia, Lenora, Stockton, Downs, and Cawker City, and graduated from Cawker City High School in 1952. Following graduation, she worked at the Barnett Company as a bookkeeper.
On April 30, 1953, she was united in marriage to Mark H. Koster. They were blessed with six children, Mark Edward, Janet Lynn, Kevin John, Douglas Allen, Ricky Raye, and Melanie Gaylene.
Her family was the joy of her life, and many hours were spent sewing and baking. She was also very active in the many school functions and sports activities in which her children participated in.
Jan worked as a bookkeeper, legal secretary, and para-professional before retiring in 1996. She continued to work in the family upholstery shop, where many pieces of furniture, truck, tractor, and boat seats were recycled.
Music was also a great joy in her life. She played the trumpet in high school, and later in the Beloit Community Orchestra, and sang in many school programs as well as in the St. John’s Choir.
She spent many hours in her flower gardens, and was pleased to share the beauty of the flowers with everyone. Many hours were also spent trying to stay ahead of the weeds.
Her church community was of great importance, and she served as an officer in the Ladies Guild, Parish Pastoral Council, and the Choir. She also served at daily Mass, and made many prayer quilts for church members, and anyone else who needed additional prayers.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Mark; her parents, Ed and Pearl Barnett; and her brothers, Bill and Jack.
She leaves to celebrate her life her children, Mark Edward, Janet Lynn Simoneau, Kevin John and wife Kathy, Douglas Allen, Ricky Raye and wife Becky, and Melanie Gaylene Foster and husband Craig; grandchildren, Dustin Koster, Jerry Koster, Heather Simoneau and husband Jeff Turner, Brandon Simoneau, Chris Koster, Cory Koster and wife Taisha, Derrick Koster, foreign exchange student, Pia Rodrigous, and Natasha and Nathan Foster; great-grandchildren, Paige and Ariana, Jada Koster, Madison Simoneau and fiancé Nicholas Mya, Olivia Simoneau, Zeppelin, Finley Koster, Janiyah Foster; step great-grandchildren, Hadlee and Hudson Turner; sisters-in-law, Cindy Trump and Gayle Barnett; many nieces and nephews; and special friends, Laura Stow, Shanna Koster, and Ann Albert.
“I pray for each of you and want you to be happy. God bless each of you.”
Memorial services will be at 11 AM Saturday, December 3, at the SS. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Cawker City. A rosary service will be at 7 PM Friday, December 2, at the Roberts Family Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the St. John's Catholic Church Restoration Fund or the Perdue House.