Peter F. Koster of Secaucus, NJ passed away on Monday, September 13, 2021, at the age of 96. After several months of declining health, Peter died peacefully with his beloved wife, of 57 years, Betty and his four daughters by his side.
Peter was born in Jersey City on November 15, 1924, to Peter and Sophie Koster. He was the youngest of four children and grew up during the Great Depression, where he developed a strong work ethic and resourceful nature.
In 1943, Peter joined the Navy at the age of 18 and served until the end of World War II. He served as a tail gunner with Patrol Bombing Squadron 27, guiding the fleet in the North Pacific. During his time of service, Peter was awarded the Purple Heart Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross and 2 Air Medals and was wounded in combat.
Peter used his GI Bill Benefits to take flying lessons and get his pilot’s license. He was a daredevil who once showed off his flight maneuvers in a Piper Cub Seaplane with a broken gas gauge and was forced to make an emergency “dead-stick” landing in the Hackensack River when he ran out of gas.
After he completed his military service, Peter continued to serve and protect when he joined the Hudson County Police Department as a motorcycle cop in 1947. He remained on the police force for 43 years and retired in 1990.
Peter had his 15 minutes of fame, when at 88 he was featured on one the premiere episodes of Surgeon Oz, where Dr. Oz performed a risky surgery to replace his aortic valve.
In 2016, he was honored by the town of Secaucus for his service to the country and community as the Grand Marshall of the Memorial Day Parade.
Peter was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings Julia, Edward, and Henry. He is survived by his wife Elizabeth; daughters Kristin & her husband Ronald, Sophia, Helaine & her husband Brian, Lisa & her husband Mark; grandchildren Eric & his fiancé Rachel, Elizabeth, and Nicholas. Peter who trained police dogs also leaves behind a legacy of love for the Doberman breed and 11 grand-Dobermans he loved to spend time with.
A visitation for Peter is planned for Thursday, September 16, 2021, from 10am to 12pm. The visitation will be at the Mack Memorial Home, Secaucus, NJ with a service at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church at 12:15pm. The funeral will follow immediately at George Washington Memorial Cemetery in Paramus, NJ.
The family requests that remembrances be made in memory of Peter to the ACT Now Foundation Dementia Center – 400 38th Street, Ste 405; Union City, NJ 07087.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18