Ilsa Barbara Koelzer

Ilsa passed away peacefully on November 5, 2025 at the Select Specialty Hospital in Kansas City, KS, surrounded by her family and friends.

Ilsa was born on March 16, 1958 in Reading, Pennsylvania, to Rudy and MaryAnn (Mullen) Koenig. Ilsa was the oldest of four children in the family. Ilsa attended schools in Reading, Pennsylvania, but moved with the family to Alma, Michigan where she attended high school. Upon graduating from high school, Ilsa attended Lansing Business School, where she majored in Fashion Merchandising. While in high school, Ilsa enjoyed being on the swim teams.

Upon graduation she moved to New Jersey, then to Dallas, Texas. In Dallas, she began working for Sprint Corporation, and eventually moved to Olathe, Kansas, working for Sprint at the corporation offices. In 2006, she began to work for X-Blue Networks, where she worked until this autumn.

Ilsa met her husband Bob, in November 2009, and was married on November 27, 2016, at the Hillsdale Presbyterian Church. Ilsa was very active with the youth at this church, leading Sunday Classes for the K thru 3rd grades. She was also very active with the church Frontier Kids programs on Wednesday nights. She loved working with the children, always dancing and singing with them. The children loved her as well. Ilsa was a true leader in the youth programs.

Ilsa enjoyed going to the beach for vacation. Bob and Ilsa had travelled to Long Beach Island, NJ, Cancun and Key West many times. She was content to sit at the beach, reading her novels and enjoying the sun and fun. She enjoyed her Mexican food as well, as well as going to the local winery. Bob and Ilsa would spend many weekends at the winery, relaxing while listening to the musicians and socializing with other patrons.

Ilsa is survived at the home in Olathe by her husband, Bob Koelzer, and her son, Max Steward and granddaughter Arianna. She is also survived by stepchildren Natalie (Dan) Long of Shawnee, KS, Jennifer (Lance) Christofferson of Kansas City, MO, Brad (Nichole) Koelzer of St. Louis, MO, and Brett (Kerry) Koelzer of Overland Park, KS. She is also survived by step-grandchildren Wesley Long, Caroline Christofferson, Julia Long, Kane Christofferson, Rylee Koelzer, and Jordy Koelzer, Her father, Rudy Koenig and stepmother Joan of Hutchison, KS, sisters Kristin (Fran) Morel of Evanston, IL, Gretchen (Tom) Brady of Yorkville, IL, and brother, Rudy, Jr (Jodi) of Cleveland, OH, and many nieces and nephews and mother-in-law Virginia Koelzer of Baileyville, KS. She was preceded in death by her mother MaryAnn Koenig and son Donald Alexander (Alex) Steward and father-in-law Elmer Koelzer.

There will be a celebration of life at the Hillsdale Presbyterian Church on November 22, 2025 at 10:30am, in Hillsdale, Kansas. Visitation will follow the service. The family request in lieu of flowers, please donate to the Hillsdale Presbyterian Church Youth Programs, 22875 West 255th Street, Paola, KS 66071.