Coonfare, Esther Bernadette

Esther Bernadette Coonfare, 90, of Davenport, formerly of Bennett, died Nov. 14, 2009, at Davenport Lutheran Home. A visitation will take place today from 4 to 7 p.m. at Fry Funeral Home in Tipton, with a rosary at 4 p.m. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Tipton, with Father David Hitch officiating. Burial will be at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery.

Esther Bernadette Coonfare, daughter of John and Rose Kozlowski Prostek, was born Feb. 21, 1919, in Milwaukee, Wis. On July 5, 1938, Esther was united in marriage to Gilbert Coonfare in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Bennett Senior Dining.

Esther is survived by her daughters, Carole (Robert) Olney of Solon, Shirley (Keith) Stidmon of East Moline, Ill., Rita Grutzmacher of Davenport and Patricia (Jerry) Whitaker of Salisbury, N.C.; sons, Gilbert (Connie) Coonfare of Andalusia, Ill., and Gregory (Mary) Coonfare of Indianapolis; 22 grandchildren, 44 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Gilbert; daughter, Dorothy Rightsell; sisters, Irene Bonk and Clara Vento; and brother, Ervin Prostek. 

Family and friends will greatly miss her sense of humor.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family or to Davenport Lutheran Home.

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