Kern County CA Obituary Project Obituaries.....Koelzer, Josephine Brand  February 8, 2005
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K T bluewolf@onemain.com February 11, 2005, 8:09 pm

The Bakersfield Californian 
Josephine Brand Koelzer
12/2/1925 - 2/8/2005

Services: Sat., Feb. 12, 2:00 p.m. 

A Funeral Mass for Josephine Brand Koelzer, 79, will be held Saturday, 
February 12, 2005, at 2:00 p.m., at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church. Father 
Ralph Belluomini will officiate the service.

Josephine was born on December 2, 1925, in Inglewood, CA, and lived in various 
cities throughout California before her family settled in Bakersfield in the 
1930s. Josie attended St. Josephs Grammar School and graduated from East 
Bakersfield High School in 1943. In high school Josie met the love of her life 
and eternal mate, Jerry Koelzer. They married in 1946 after Dad returned from 
the war and they spent the next 59 years together devoted to each other, their 
children and their faith.

Josies unplanned career with the Kern County Sheriffs office began as a clerk 
in the civil division in the early 1960s. Soon after, she was recruited to 
apply for a newly formed position as a female deputy sheriff. Josie 
surprisingly accepted the job and spent the next 15 years working with victims 
of child abuse and domestic abuse. She was involved in the formation of Haven 
House and was active in the Big Brothers, Big Sisters organization. Josie 
retired from the Sheriffs office with the rank of Investigator.

Josie and Jerry spent many wonderful years at their home in Pismo Beach along 
with their big circle of family and friends, until poor health required them 
to sell the house in the mid 1990s.

Our wife and mother gave of herself to all, freely and unconditionally. Her 
smile was huge and her heart even bigger. She assumed the role of Nana like it 
was invented just for her.

Josie is survived by her loving husband, Jerry; sons, Robert (Marsha), Joe 
(Eileen), Matt (Pam) all of Bakersfield; daughter, Geraldine Toovey of Nampa, 
Idaho; brother, John Brand of Bakersfield; 10 grandchildren and 10 great-
grandchildren.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Maddox and his staff for their compassion and 
also the staff at Bakersfield Heart Hospital. In lieu of flowers, donations 
may be made to the local chapter of the American Cancer Society or Optimal 
Hospice.

Hopson-Anspach Family Mortuary 


Additional Comments:
Volunteer submission - No relation to deceased.

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