Ethel Lillian Koffler (Makus) slipped peacefully from this world on May 11, 2022, due to a persistent heart condition. She was 94 years old and her final two years were comfortable in her daughter’s home in Marana, Arizona.

The Early Years

Ethel lived a full and blessed life which began on March 24, 1928, when she was born in Brandon, Wisconsin in Fon du Lac County to Adolph and Eva Makus. Her doctor officially recorded her birthdate in error as March 26th. Her mom would say, “a mother knows when her baby was born!” The date discrepancy would keep everyone on their toes when helping her apply for government-issued ID or social security and medicare!

Ethel was born after Art (1924) and Gilbert (1926). Arriving soon after her was Clarence (1930), and Joyce (1936). In 1936 her family moved across the country to Lake Stevens, Washington when she was 8 years old. Soon after Adolph (JR) was born (1941). She attended the Country School through 8th grade.

A pivotal moment for Ethel occurred in 1939 in an old Granite Falls livery stable that was converted to Bethel Tabernacle church. A Sunday school teacher prayed with her to receive Christ. Two years later when she turned 13 she had a vivid dream of being filled with the Holy Spirit. She woke up disappointed that it didn’t really happen. Later that year on Christmas Eve during a family prayer time, she experienced exactly what she had dreamt. She said she encountered the power of the Holy Spirit — describing it as the most precious, real, peaceful, and joyful experience she has ever had. This experience would have a profound influence on many of her life choices thereafter.

In the early 40’s, she lived through the harrowing war years enduring blackouts, fears, and shortages experienced by those on the West Coast during WWII. Despite this, she graduated from Lake Stevens High School in 1946. After graduating, she worked the apple orchards and later moved to downtown Seattle with her friend Evelyn Wilson to take a bookkeeping job.

The Family Years

On December 10, 1949, she married George Koffler. She enjoyed nearly 66 years of marriage before losing George to a stroke in November 2015.

George and Ethel started their marriage in a rental in Everett, where George eventually took a job at the Weyerhaeuser mill. The winter of 1949-50 broke many records for both cold and snowfall — of which many still stand. Ethel mused frequently, “Who would be so foolish to get married in December? Two young people that are in love!” There were many ways to stay warm during that cold period, and we understood this newlywed’s preference nine months later when Wayne Peter Koffler was born in November of 1950.

Adolph and Eva had purchased some acreage in Lake Stevens where their family remained as the older children moved away and were married. In 1951 Ethel and George rented a home on this land where they continued to grow as a family. Aldean Eva (1953), Shirley Lynn (1954) and Diane Eleanor (1958) were born. (The winters must have stayed chilly!) In the late 50’s George began building their family home on a five-acre plot provided by Ethel’s parents. In 1962 the work was still in progress, but complete enough for the family to move in. Soon after, George Jr. (1964) and Glenda Kaye (1965) were born.

During the 60’s and 70’s life was busy with family, school, work, and church activities. Ethel often took on extra work to help with the load. In 1969 she opened her home and heart to care for foster children. Among those that they cared for, Tammy Awe has remained close to the family.

The Later Years

In 1980, Weyerhaeuser closed the Everett mill and George was laid off. This was a period that tested their faith in many ways. To keep the income flowing, they moved from Lake Stevens and worked many different jobs: from handyman work, housekeeping services at the Nordstrom’s mansion, Community Chapel maintenance, to Jafco (a store like Best Buy). They returned to their home in Lake Stevens when they announced their official retirement in 1988. They stayed busy visiting the kids, fishing, and road trips. They went on a mission trip to Guatemala, and later Ethel went on another to Jamaica. George and Ethel would often volunteer at Gleanings for the Hungry in California, where they packaged food leftover from local harvests and sent it to those in need. In the later 90’s they bought a beast of a motor home and had some memorable travel experiences visiting family in California, spring training with the Mariners in Peoria, then relatives in the Midwest.

In 2005 Ethel and George pulled up her Washington roots and headed toward the sunshine. No more cloudy, dreary, rainy Northwest days — it’s time for the good life in Southern California, where they moved to Mentone. In 2015 Ethel’s husband of 65 years passed away from a stroke just a month before their 66th anniversary.

In 2018 Ethel sold the mobile home in Friendly Hills Estates and moved to Sunset apartments nearby. When the pandemic began in 2020, she once again moved to live in Arizona and be cared for by her daughter Diane. She continued to live a full life and thrive even as her heart was getting weaker. She loved to get into feisty political conversations, she read voraciously, painted, and talked often with family and friends. She could set her clock by a weekly call from her brother JR on Saturdays. A lifeline he threw to her when George passed away.

In the last several months before her passing, it was rich with visits from family and friends. She cherished every relationship deeply. One of the highlights in her last year was the birth of two new great grandkids, Olivia Rose (born to grandson Kedric in AZ) and Miles (born to granddaughter Jaci in WA). Olivia would visit regularly, and it added life and hope to Ethel’s day like nothing else.

Ethel’s heart has revolved around serving her family and friends, church community, and tending and feeding her family from home gardens and farm animals and loving all those who entered her home. She was an artist and loved painting her entire life. Even as she was slowing down, in her late 80’s, early 90’s she volunteered in a soup kitchen in Mentone with the express desire to love the less fortunate.

Family Details

Several of Ethel’s family have already passed, including her brothers Art, Gilbert, and Clarence Makus. She is survived by her younger sister Joyce and her husband Maury currently living (homeless, but not cabinless) in Washington. Her brother JR and Carole are also healthy and well living in Florida.

Ethel leaves behind her growing family of 6 kids, 12 grandkids, and 17 great grandkids. You ready for the list?

Wayne; has two children: Terry and Joshua. Terry has three children: Vanessa, Faith, and Austin. Josh has two kids: Caleb and Jadyn.

Aldean; has two daughters: Andrea and Angelica.  Andrea has three children: Monica, Winter and Judah. Angelica has two children: Holden and Renton.

Shirley Lynn; has two children: Justin and Emily Ewer. Justin has a son named Zane.

Diane; has two sons: Tyson and Kedric. Kedric has a daughter named Olivia.

George Jr.: has two children: Robert and Jaci. Jaci has a son named Miles.

Glenda: has two children: Sarah and Steven. Sara Fritschy has a daughter named Dagne. Steven Fritschy has three children: Avery, SJ, and Paisely.

Tammy Awe: (foster daughter); has two daughters: Amber and Amanda.