Eileen Koski, age 83, joined her husband in heaven while surrounded by family.  She fought a long, painful battle with cancer while displaying her true Finnish “Sisu” (a special type of stubbornness).  Eileen was born on September 23, 1932, in Kinney, MN.  She graduated as class valedictorian from Martin Hughes High School, then went on to attend Gustavas Adolphus College.  After college she became a medical technologist and moved to Richland, WA, where she met her future husband, Oscar Koski.  They married in 1958 and were together 49 years at the time of his passing.  She loved her family and Christmas, and showered them with gifts.  She would start purchasing gifts in mid-summer and not stop shopping until the last minute.  Her greatest joy was watching everyone opening their presents.  She also had a love for gardening, especially tomatoes, which she started planting each January.  We will so miss her tomatoes as well!

Eileen was preceded in death by her mother, Aili (Palo) Jackola, father Hugo Jackola, and her husband Oscar Koski.  She is survived by her sisters, Marilyn Roetman and Esther Filson, her children Elizabeth (Joseph) Bombino, Carolyn Bastian, Henry (Kathy) Koski, Leslie Koski, grandchildren Elysha Pleasant, Hershal (Michelle) Pleasant, Miranda (Michael) Custer, Jessica (Matthew) Elliott, Ruben Koski, Eileen Koski, and great-granchildren Hayden Pleasant, Ellie Saunders, Edward Pleasant, Annabelle Pleasant, Benjamin Pleasant, Liam Custer, Lucian Elliott, and baby Elliott due to arrive in August.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 10, 2016, at Richland Lutheran Church, 901 Van Giesen St., Richland, WA.  Those wishing to honor Eileen’s memory may make a contribution to Richland Lutheran Good News Media Ministry at the above address.  A special thanks to those who enabled Eileen to get her wish of staying in her home, especially her granddaughter Elysha, Tri-Cities Chaplaincy (with a special thank you to Sheila), Dr. Timothy Baldwin, and Home Health Care Solutions, what an awesome team.  God bless you all!