Obituaries

Compiled by Mary Wickersham from the sources noted, genealogist and ISM webmaster. Please feel free to send me comments or additional information, and I will be happy to make corrections and updates.

Donald W. Koza, M.D., Physician

Donald Warren Koza was born to Albert and Emma Broders Koza in St. Paul on April 13, 1922.

He had many hobbies and interests, and enjoyed gardening. He was an avid iris grower and at one time had over 1,500 iris in his backyard garden, all named and labeled. He was active in the Minnesota Iris Society, serving as President in 1980; the American Iris Society; and was the Regional Vice President of Region 8, and was also a retired master iris judge. He won over 40 ribbons for his iris displays and also won the coveted "Queen of the Show" prize.

According to family lore, Don was told the chromosome needed to make the red iris he had been working on developing.

Don went to Douglas Elementary School on the west side of St. Paul, then Roosevelt Junior High for 9th grade, then chose to go to Mechanic Arts High School because it offered advanced classes in botany, zoology, chemistry, biology, Latin and German. He was active in Boy Scouts and was an Eagle Scout. He lettered in swimming. He then attended the University of Minnesota, graduating in 1943 with a BS in pre-med degree he earned in three years. He received a BA in tissue culture in 1944, a bachelor's of medicine degree in 1945, a doctor of Medicine degree in 1946, and an MS in Physiology and Pathology in 1949. After 3 service in the Army, he studied at the Mayo clinic.

Don's medical practice was in St. Paul: the Earl Clinic, the Payne Avenue Clinic, and the Arcade Medical Clinic. He held part-time second jobs as a doctor at 3M and Concordia College. He retired in 1989, and enjoyed 17 years of retirement. He traveled extensively and even went on a hot air balloon ride after he retired.

Don married Lorraine Semanko in 1944. They had three sons (all became Eagle Scouts) and one daughter. Son Dennis preceded his father in death.

Don was a lifetime Lutheran, actively supporting church activities.

Don died December 24, 2006.

Sources: Jo Ann Metling; Koza family; Ancestry.com; Newsbank.com, St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Gus and Charlotte Sindt

Wilbert Gustav “Gus” Sindt was born in rural Troy Township, Pipestone County, Minnesota, on January 2, 1911, to Gustav and Alvenia Weise Sindt. He was raised on the family farm.   Gus graduated from Macalester College in 1934, where he lettered in track. 

Charlotte Bailey was born December 17, 1912, in Winnebago, Minn., and went to high school in Virginia, Minn. She graduated from Macalester College in 1934. As a student at Macalester in the early 1930s she was a member of the synchronized swimming team. Later she taught English, Spanish, Latin and French in high schools in Nebraska and Iowa.

Gus and Charlotte (Char) were Macalester classmates. They married at Tracy, Minnesota on June 23, 1937. The father of the bride performed the ceremony.

Gus retired from 3-M after 33 years. 

According to his obituary, Gus had a lifelong interest in horticulture, and had been:

• president of the Minnesota Horticultural Society
• director of the American Peony Society
• region vice-president of the American Iris Society

Char was an accomplished flower arranger, and member of several garden and flowering organizations, including the American and Minnesota iris societies. She won numerous awards at the Minnesota State Fair for floral arrangements.

Gus and Char were honorary life members of the Garden Club of Ramsey County. Gus was an honorary life member of the Minnesota Gladiolus Society.  They judged agricultural and horticultural exhibits at the Minnesota State Fair every year from 1962 through 1999. 

They were members of the North Presbyterian Church for most of their lives.

Gus died Dec. 25, 1999, at home in Maplewood. Char died September 6, 2004 at Presbyterian Homes in Roseville, at age 92. Each donated their mortal remains to the University of Minnesota medical school. 

Gus and Charlotte's son, David Bailey Sindt (1940-1986), Presbyterian minister and a founder of the Presbyterians for Lesbian/Gay Concerns (PLGC), was a well-known commercial iris hybridizer, introducing 30 cultivars through the Riverside Iris Garden in Minneapolis. Gus and Char became "Mom and Pop" to members of the PLGC (now called More Light) organization.

Gus and Char were survived by their daughter Claire Ann, and two grandsons.

Sources: Minneapolis Star Tribune; www.IowaOldPress.com, Iowa News from the
Emmet Co. Scrapbook items, transcribed by Linda Ziemann; www.lgbtran.org, Religious Archives; www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/components/6642c08.html, University of Minnesota, A History of Minnesota Floriculture; Ancestry.com; Newsbank.com, St. Paul Pioneer Press.