Baker City, Oregon
Benjamin Allen “Toby” Koeff, 32, of Baker City died Nov. 22, 2002, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.
Friends and family may call at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., on Friday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The vigil service will begin at 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
The Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral, First and Church streets. The Rev. Robert C. Irwin will celebrate the Mass. There will be a reception afterward in the parish hall.
The parents, Keith and Sharon Koeff, were blessed with Benjamin on Christmas Day 1969. He attended schools at Mason City, Iowa, and graduated in 1989 from Denver High School at Denver, Iowa.
He earned his welding degree from Hawkeye Tech at Waterloo, Iowa, and then proceeded to work for Unverferth Manufacturing at Shell Rock, Iowa. His family moved to Oregon in 1992. In 1996, he moved to Oregon to join them.
Benjamin had worked for a short time with Step Forward and for a lawn service until he was hired by Unverferth Manufacturing at North Powder as a warehouseman and truckdriver. He lived at North Powder for a short time before moving to Baker City.
Benjamin, who was also nicknamed ‘Toby,’ enjoyed fishing, especially with his dad, wrestling and music, but his big interest was stock car racing and the NASCAR racing. His family was his life.
Benjamin was sweet and caring and loved children. He was known as “Gentle Ben” to many. Even though he was big in size, his heart was gentle as a lamb. He was a devoted brother to his younger sister, always looking out for her. He was a simple guy, who enjoyed the simple and small things in life and loved God. He was a member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church at North Powder. He will be so missed.
Survivors are his parents, Keith and Sharon Koeff, and his sister, Sheri Koeff, all of Baker City, Oregon; his loving aunts and uncles all from Iowa, Jim and Peg Kane, Ray and Pam Kane, Terry and Jean Lowman, Laura Koeff and Roger and Donna Kittle; and many cousins.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Herschel and Marie Kane of Dunkerton, Iowa, and Gus and Claribel Koeff, of Waverly, Iowa, and his uncle, Delvin Koeff, of Nashua, Iowa.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Red Cross, Eastern Oregon Chapter, or a charity of one’s choice through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, November 29, 2002
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor