By Staff
Gary D. Kosier, 67, of North 16th Street, Niles, died at 10:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 31, 2009, at Lakeland Community Hospital, Niles, following an extended illness.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 6, at Halbritter Funeral Home, with the Rev. Carl W. Bassett of Niles officiating and will conclude with the veteran's Flag Presentation and Taps.
The family will receive friends and relatives from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 5, at the funeral home.
He was born on Dec. 19, 1941, in Canton, Ill. to Ralph and Olive (Wolf) Kosier. He graduated from Sterling High School in Illinois in 1960. He immediately enlisted in the United States Navy and served on the USS Atakapa during the Cuban Missile crisis. On returning home, he began a successful career selling electrical supplies for several different firms in Illinois and Indiana, including Kendall Electric, Inc. of Mishawaka, Ind. He enjoyed many outdoor activities including flower gardening and kayaking and fishing in local lakes.
On Jan. 29, 1977, in Savoy, Ill., he married the former Darold Koontz, who survives.
Additional surviving family include: sons, Lieutenant Commander M. Craig (Jennifer) Exum, U.S. Navy in Misawa, Japan, Gary (Sara) Exum of Granger, Ind. and Douglas Kosier of Canton, Ill.; grandchildren, Keighla and Hunter Exum; and sisters, Phyllis (Glenn) Alderfer, Nancy (Ray) Gebhardt and Jeanne Kosier, all of Sterling, Ill.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Saint Jude Children's Hospital.
Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.