Obituary for Thomas Theodore "Tom" Koester
Thomas Theodore Koester of Big Cedar Lake, Left us behind on March 12, 2024. Tom was born to Fred W. and Marion (nee Leenhouts) Koester on a hot July 8th Saturday in 1933 at the Milwaukee Hospital. Due to the losses suffered in the Great Depression, the family moved in with Tom’s maternal grandmother Adreana (Jennie) Leenhouts on the shores of Lake Michigan in Fox Point, in an English style home designed by his grandfather Cornelius Leenhouts, a prominent Milwaukee Architect along with his brother Frederic, 10 years older, and his uncle Willis Leenhouts also an architect. Tom’s brother Frederic showed in New York and Paris with great success, spending over fifty years in New York City. Tom studied Art Education at UWM and became interested in stage design, working at the original Fred Miller Theater, and as co-technical director for the Shorewood Players until entering the Army in 1956. Tom had the good fortune to be sent to Germany in peace time absorbing the culture and travel as well as doing some theater for Special Services. After the Army he joined the Theater Department at Mount Mary College where he spent 4 years involved in all the aspects of theater production and education, also working at numerous professional Summer Theaters including The Port Players in Oconomowoc, Peninsula Players in Door County, Hampton Summer Playhouse in Hampton, Hew Hampshire and many other venues.
While in the East looking into theater positions at Princeton and Queens College, he decided to enroll in the Communications Department of New York University’s School of Broadcasting in Greenwich Village and studied with some of the real pioneers of broadcasting. He came home to a job at WITI-TV6 in Milwaukee where he spent 30 years as Producer/Director, Creative Services Director and Production Manager. He has the pleasure of doing special programs with The Milwaukee Symphony and for many years co-coordinating and directing the MD Telethons, annual Christmas specials and a wide variety of programming. During this time, he also designed sets and lighting for the Florentine Opera at the Pabst Theater until 1969 when they moved into the Performing Arts Center, where his designs were displayed for the grand opening. Tom also designed the Music Under the Stars in Washington Park for many years thereafter.
For the past 40 years Tom has lived at the Koester Family property on Big Cedar Lake in Washington County, where he spent summers growing up. The property has been in the family for well over 100 years. His great-great-grandfather farmed part of what is now the West Bend Country Club in the mid-1800s. Tom resided in a contemporary home designed by his aunt and uncle, Willis and Lillian Leenhouts, a nationally recognized and honored architectural firm.
Travel, boating, golf and snow skiing have kept him busy. He has been a ski instructor on and off since the early 60s and is a past member of The National Ski Patrol and Professional Ski Instructors of America.
Tom leaves behind his three children, the most important part of his life, Heidi Lynn Koester, Mark Frederic Koester (Lisa Corona) and Eric Thomas Koester (Valaria Tatera) and his only first cousin Robin Leenhouts all of Milwaukee. Also, many very, very good friends and relations without whom life would not have been nearly as good.
In lieu of flowers, Tom would suggest……have a Martini. To honor Tom’s wishes, there will not be a service.
While in the East looking into theater positions at Princeton and Queens College, he decided to enroll in the Communications Department of New York University’s School of Broadcasting in Greenwich Village and studied with some of the real pioneers of broadcasting. He came home to a job at WITI-TV6 in Milwaukee where he spent 30 years as Producer/Director, Creative Services Director and Production Manager. He has the pleasure of doing special programs with The Milwaukee Symphony and for many years co-coordinating and directing the MD Telethons, annual Christmas specials and a wide variety of programming. During this time, he also designed sets and lighting for the Florentine Opera at the Pabst Theater until 1969 when they moved into the Performing Arts Center, where his designs were displayed for the grand opening. Tom also designed the Music Under the Stars in Washington Park for many years thereafter.
For the past 40 years Tom has lived at the Koester Family property on Big Cedar Lake in Washington County, where he spent summers growing up. The property has been in the family for well over 100 years. His great-great-grandfather farmed part of what is now the West Bend Country Club in the mid-1800s. Tom resided in a contemporary home designed by his aunt and uncle, Willis and Lillian Leenhouts, a nationally recognized and honored architectural firm.
Travel, boating, golf and snow skiing have kept him busy. He has been a ski instructor on and off since the early 60s and is a past member of The National Ski Patrol and Professional Ski Instructors of America.
Tom leaves behind his three children, the most important part of his life, Heidi Lynn Koester, Mark Frederic Koester (Lisa Corona) and Eric Thomas Koester (Valaria Tatera) and his only first cousin Robin Leenhouts all of Milwaukee. Also, many very, very good friends and relations without whom life would not have been nearly as good.
In lieu of flowers, Tom would suggest……have a Martini. To honor Tom’s wishes, there will not be a service.