R. David Koestner

Robert David “Dave” Koestner passed away on May 29, 2026, at the age of 83, at Rose Arbor Place in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Dave was born in Kalamazoo on September 5, 1942, the second of nine children born to Robert and Charlotte (Henns) Koestner. He spent his childhood in Kalamazoo alongside his family and his lifelong friend, Dennis “Mac” MacDonell. The two became well known for their adventures around Gull Lake and remained close friends throughout their lives.

Dave attended St. Augustine High School, graduating in 1960. Three days before his 18th birthday, he enlisted in the United States Navy. He completed boot camp at Great Lakes Naval Station and attended Navy Radioman School in Norfolk, Virginia. After graduating, he was stationed in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he supported Navy communications operations.

Following his military service, Dave attended Western Michigan University, earning a Bachelor of Business degree in 1967. While at WMU, he served as President of Alpha Kappa Psi Business Fraternity. He continued his education and completed his MBA in 1969.

As a child and throughout his life, Dave loved spending time on Gull Lake. Dave's immediate family made continual memories in South Haven; annual Koestner Christmas parties with instruments and sing-a-longs; and Friday zoom calls with his eight siblings. He was a skilled bowler, enjoyed playing pool, and spent summers golfing and playing tennis at Kalamazoo Country Club. Dave had a remarkable ability to solve problems creatively and could build, repair, or improve almost anything. Whether designing practical household solutions or remodeling parts of his home, he approached every project with ingenuity and determination. He was also passionate about classic cars and boats, with an encyclopedic knowledge of makes, models, and specifications. His boating skills were admired by many fellow captains.

In 1969, Dave and his wife, Faye, purchased a home on Gull Lake, where they raised their four children. He devoted countless hours to home improvements and special projects for his family, including building a loft for his oldest son, Kyle, and a custom car bed for his son, Kurtis.

Dave spent most of his professional career working in the family business, Southern Michigan Equipment. In 1979, he purchased the company from his father and renamed it K-Lift.

In 1989, Dave married Marcia and settled on Lake Doster. Never far from the water, he continued his lifelong love of boating. Over the years, he built and owned many boats, but his favorite was a 53-foot Hatteras. He created countless cherished memories cruising Lake Michigan, from Chicago to Mackinac Island, with family and friends.

Dave is survived by his wife, Marcia (Stakoviak) Koestner; his children, Kyle (Danielle) Koestner, Kelcee (Scot) MacDonell, Kurtis (Jennifer) Koestner, and Kal (Susan) Koestner; his grandchildren, Kyla, Charlie, Emily, Peter, Thomas, Ava, Cade, Maysan, Kensie, Kaleb, Kinsley, Lennon, and Rowe; his siblings, Priscilla Swiat, Joseph Koestner, Martha (Jack) Gesmundo, Clare (George) Todd, Christina (John) Filbrandt, John (Eileen) Koestner, Andrew (DeAnn) Koestner, and Bart (Debbie) Koestner; many nieces and nephews; and his beloved cat, Bentley. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Charlotte (Henns) Koestner, and his brother-in-law, Tom Swiat.

Visitation will be held at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Portage on Thursday, June 11, from 10 AM - 11 AM. Mass will be celebrated at 11 AM. Burial will take place at Fort Custer National Cemetery on Monday, June 15, at 10:30 AM. Celebrate Dave’s life by sharing memories and photos on his dedicated webpage at BetzlerLifeStory.com. Memorial contributions may be made to the National Organization for Disorders of the Corpus Callosum.

Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo, (269) 375-2900.