June 9, 1938 - February 9, 2025
Joan Koestler, 86 of Burt, passed away Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, at the Kossuth Regional Health Center in Algona. Funeral services will be held on Friday, Feb. 14 at 10:30 a.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Burt. Service will be live streamed via Lentz Funeral Home’s website. Burial will take place at Burt Township Cemetery in Burt. Visitation will be held Thursday, Feb. 13 from 4 until 6 p.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Burt. Services have been entrusted to Lentz Funeral Home of Burt. Online condolences may be left at www.lentzfuneralhome.com.
Joan Jean Krull was born June 9, 1938, in Algona. She was the youngest of five children born to Fim and Etna (Siefert) Krull. They lived on a farm southeast of Burt.
Joan’s siblings were Ruth (David) Bolie of Thompson, Leona Krull of Lake Crystal, Minn., Fern (Richard) Tiggemann, Mesa, Ariz. and Louis (June) Krull of Algona.
She attended the country school near Burt where she had many happy memories (along with some shenanigan stories) from there. Joan’s father wanted her to attend only halfway through the eighth grade so that she could be acquainted with her classmates before she began high school. In 1956, she graduated from high school and then went on to graduate from Hamiliton Business School in Mason City. She worked at a law office and insurance company for a short time.
She met Hank Wichtendahl of West Bend in the summer of ’58. They were married and lived on his family’s farm east of West Bend. There they raised five children together. They divorced in 1992. Joan then worked for Exceptional Opportunities in Burt.
She reluctantly attended her 40th class reunion at Charlie’s Supper Club in 1996. She was reunited with a former classmate, Vern Koestler. They were married on May 3, 1997. After marrying in Burt, they moved to their home in Naperville, Ill. Later, they moved back to Burt to be closer to both of their families. They were members of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Burt.
Joan’s passions were sewing, crafting, camping, thrifting, garage sales, baking and hosting many friends and family. Her greatest passion and talent for gardening was well known and appreciated by those close to her. She also adored the beloved dogs that she had over the years.
Left to cherish her memories and quick wit are her husband, Vern Koestler, Burt, her children; Lisa (Greg) Blair, West Bend; Brian Wichtendahl, Algona; Nancy Bleuer, West Bend; and Kris Banwart, Iowa City. Her stepdaughters are Grace (Will) Krause, Elgin, Ill. and Wendy (Mark) Sreniaski. Joan’s in-laws are Jerry (Betty) Koestler, Burt; Victoria (Eldon Meyer) Koestler, Burt; and June (Tom) Bonderman, Clear Lake.
Grandchildren are Sara Blair, West Bend; Alicia (Samir) Sinha, San Francisco, Calif.; Alex (Maria) Bleuer, West Bend; Will Leininger, Algona; and Elijah, Gabriel and Isaiah Banwart of Iowa City. Step-grandchildren are Danny and Andrew Pietraszewski, Elgin, Ill.; and Lucas and Lauren Sreniawski. Joan had eight great-grandchildren. Joan loved her many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings and a son, Neal Wichtendahl. Memorials may be made in her memory to St. John’s Lutheran Church, Burt, IA.