Stan and Sue Koster were chosen as the 2021 Grand Marshals of the 99th Corn Carnival. A full slate of activities are set for the evening of Thursday, June 17 to kick off the Corn Carnival festivities. The Koster’s will part of the Grand Parade which is set to take place Friday, June 18 at 6:30 p.m. Photo Provided

Stan and Sue Koster were chosen as the 2021 Grand Marshals of the 99th Corn Carnival.

Stan’s parents, Warren and Irene Koster, lived a few miles east of Gladbrook, and Stan loved helping his dad on the farm during his school years. One of Stan’s childhood memories was driving the pickup to his neighbor’s farm when he was ten. Meanwhile, a policeman made a campaign stop at his parents, and his dad was mortified that little Stan would pull in while the policeman was visiting. But Mrs. Staker asked him in for cookies and milk so all was good!

He graduated from Gladbrook High School in 1960, worked at Pat Manning Chevrolet, and then Lynn Blevins TV in Marshalltown. He was in the U.S. Navy from 1962-1966 and served during the Vietnam War. He was grateful for the GI Bill, which helped him graduate from MCC and then from Iowa State University in 1971.

On August 1, 1969, he married Sue Handorf. He worked at Fisher Controls in the IT department from 1972-2013. He made 13 trips to Asia and was gone one time for a year. Sue was still teaching when he retired. Stan was bored at home so he accepted a job as GMG Elementary’s custodian for 3 1/2 years. Then, he was called back to Fisher Controls/Emerson, where he worked for seven more years before retiring for good. Stan’s dad taught him many skills, including working with wood. With the help of family and friends, he built their Gladbrook home and also their cabin.

He is an active member of Chapel Church, Lions Club, the daily Man Cave group, and has been a very active supporter of Gladbrook projects through the years. Some projects include helping to revitalize the bowling alley and the grocery store after TeKippes sold it; he volunteered over 2,000 hours to help build the Gladbrook Theater&, City Hall, and Matchstick Museum and ran the movies and concession stand by himself for three months; he helped open up lots to build homes on the west side of town; helped open the industrial park; and served on the G-R School Board. He can fix most anything and often uses his skills to help others.

Sue’s parents were Ward and Margaret Handorf. She was raised on a farm a few miles southwest of Gladbrook. Sue did not go to kindergarten as she was the only one in her country school class, but she loved her time in first grade a mile away. Her siblings and she walked to and from school and often stopped on their way home where their teacher, Mrs. Weise, loved to get lollipops. When the school closed, it was a shock for her to attend Gladbrook School, where she graduated in 1963 with a big class of 29! She then went to Westmar College in LeMars, IA, where she majored in elementary education. Her first teaching job was in third grade at Fairmont, MN. She married Stan in 1969, the beginning of a partnership that has continued into their 52nd year of marriage.

Sue then taught second & third grades in Marshalltown, and after their children were in school, she taught gifted/talented students at Gladbrook-Reinbeck and GMG for 25 years. She loved her students! Sue also taught many piano students throughout the years. Usually six students would get off the bus at their place, besides her three children, Sue would always have cookies and lemonade, and the kids played with each other while she taught a student for 30 minutes. A fun family memory was helping form the Country Cousins with her two sisters-in-law, which consisted of their seven children, all one year apart, ages 5-11. They gave programs around the state, and it was a great experience for them.

Sue is a lifelong member of Gladbrook Chapel UM Church where she holds leadership positions and is a musician. Her faith is very important to her. She is also active in Gladbrook Legion Auxiliary as well as being a regular volunteer in her community.

They have three children, Ann (TJ) Schaffer, Waterloo; Sara (Andy) Schrodt, Winterset; and Ryan, Bettendorf. Ann works for John Deere as a planner, and TJ is a firefighter. Sara is a kindergarten teacher in Waukee, and Andy is an engineer for Bratney Companies. Ryan is an IT manager for John Deere. The Kosters are blessed to have nine grandchildren, Emma (soon to marry Tyler Lair), Alli & Gwen Schaffer; Rebecca (Andy) Rushenberg, Gracen, Sam & Chloe Schrodt; Kinsey & Josiah Koster, and one great granddaughter, Nora Rushenberg.

Stan has two sisters, Betty Reinhard, Springdale, AR, and Marilyn Brekke, Gladbrook. Sue has one sister, Alice (Bob) Sienknecht, Dunkerton; her brother, Lynn (Claire) Handorf; and sister-in-law, Karen Handorf.

Stan and Sue enjoy their cabin near Pine River, MN. There are seven other cabins of local families who also enjoy Ponto Lake. Their winters are spent in Lake Placid, FL, but they love to come back to Gladbrook to be near their family. They cherish their friends who are scattered in the US.

Stan & Sue and their family have many fond memories of Corn Carnival. When it seemed to be on a downslide years ago, Darrell and Jeanne Paustian and they worked very hard to try to revive it. Sue remembers chairing the horseshoe contest and not knowing too much about the rules. The throwers definitely let her know when they didn’t agree with her, and they were probably correct! Another memory of Sue’s was when the men were returning tables and chairs after Carnival was finished. Jeanne and Sue were cleaning up the Merchant’s Tent when a storm quickly came up. Jeanne yelled at Sue that the Tent was blowing over and to cut the electricity. Sue pulled the electricity lever while standing in water…and is alive to tell about it.

They thank the committee for choosing them as Grand Marshals but mentioned that there were many others who were more deserving. They both love their hometown of Gladbrook and are very honored to represent Gladbrook this year.