Lillian Mae (Keller) Koger passed away peacefully September 20, 2022, at the age of 84 at the Good Samaritan Society Nursing Facility in Oberlin, Kansas, after succumbing to the long term disease of Parkinson’s with her loving husband, Jim, by her side.
Lillian was born on May 23, 1938, in Stafford, Kansas, to Jess Edward Keller, Sr. and Anna Mae (Cundiff) Keller. She grew up in St. John, Kansas. She attended Sunshine and Centerview country schools and graduated from St. John High School in 1956. She attended Pratt Junior College, Pratt, Kansas, and earned an Associates Degree in 1958. Soon after graduation, she and her brother, Edward, moved to Englewood, Colorado where she was employed at Bingo King for several years.
Lillian met and married
the love of her life, Jimmy Keith Koger, on March 14, 1963, in Englewood,
Colorado. They were blessed with one son, Brian Eric Koger on January
27, 1968. Lillian and Jim lived in Denver, Colorado until moving to
Oberlin, Kansas in 2005.
Lillian’s passions were reading
(enough books to create her own library), music, watching sports from
football to tennis and everything in between, the Kansas plains, the
Colorado mountains, the Arizona desert, everything Native American and
the southwest, birds, wildlife, and flowers. She had a great sense of
humor, quick witted, a thirst for knowledge and a sweet laugh. She and
Jim four-wheeled all over Colorado with the Mixed Nuts Four-Wheelers
Club satisfying her love for the outdoors and adventure. She was a
devoted and loving wife of nearly 60 years, mother, grandmother, aunt
and sister to her three younger siblings.
Lillian was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Edward Keller and a brother-in-law, Joe Romo.
She
is survived by her husband, Jim, of the home and son, Brian Koger
(Sharla Ritter) of Oberlin, Ks.; granddaughter, Larae Ashley Beebee,
Denver, Colorado and grandson, Logan Jimmy Koger, Oberlin, Ks.;
step-grandsons Seth Ritter, Ellis, Ks and Josh Ritter, Atwood, Ks;
siblings Thomas (Sharon) Keller, Colorado Springs, Co., Patricia
(Rodney) Crissman, St. John, Ks.; nephews Alan (Dawn) Keller, Colorado
Springs, Co., Monty (Christine) Keller, Florissant, Co., Jess Keller,
Colorado Springs, Co.; nieces Jennifer (Chris) Shankle, Kingman, Ks.,
and Amelia Romo, St. John, Ks., and five great nieces and nephews.
Lillian is also survived by numerous other loving family and friends and
her beloved dog, Chipper. She will be greatly missed by all.
A memorial service and celebration of life will be held at the Oberlin Covenant Church, 810 W. Cedar, Oberlin, Ks., September 24, 2022, at 2:30 p.m. Inurnment in St. John, Ks will be determined at a later date.
Memorials are suggested to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, www.michaeljfox.org; Paralyzed Veterans of American, www.pva.org; or to the Oberlin Covenant Church, Oberlin, Ks. Family and friends may leave their condolences at Pauls Funeral Home of Oberlin, Ks. www.paulsfh.com