Brian L. Koski

Brian L. Koski, 53, of Hawley, MN, passed away on Saturday, February 26, 2022, at home under the care of family and Sanford Fargo Hospice after a hard-fought battle with Pancreatic Cancer.

Brian was born July 7, 1968, in Minneapolis, MN, to Dick and Jan (Wastweet) Koski. He grew up in Gary, MN, and graduated from Gary High School in 1987. Following high school, Brian enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. After returning home, he worked part-time at Sears and the North Dakota Air National Guard during college while attending North Dakota State University and graduated in 1999 with a Construction Management Degree. Brian met Brenda Ressler at Sears and married on May 8, 1999. Brian continued to serve with the North Dakota Air National Guard and was proud to be a Happy Hooligan until retiring in 2012. He loved visiting Air Force bases to watch jets (F-16s) take off and land. Brian worked in the construction industry over the years and has been working for Mortenson Company.

Brian loved to spend time with family and friends. He was the life of the party and did not like missing out on any events. He loved the lake and ice-cold Coors or Tito’s and lemonade while sitting on the beach, boat rides, and sitting by the fire. Brian helped coach Justin’s FM Athletics football teams and traveling basketball teams. He was a great mentor to the players on all the teams he coached. He enjoyed watching Justin play sports all throughout his high school career and was a very proud father when Justin decided to enlist into the Air Force after high school.

Brian is survived by his wife, Brenda; son, Justin; and beloved dog Zoe; parents, Dick and Jan; sister, Tracy (Bill) Spaeth; niece, Samantha Spaeth; nephew, Jon (Rachel) Spaeth; mother-in-law, Karen Ressler; brother-in-law, Greg (Peggy Heuer) Ressler and his children, Jessica Morrissey and Conrad Ressler; sister-in-law, Sherri Ramberg and her children, Robert (Rachel Cigelske) Ramberg, Cameron Ramberg, Christian Ramberg, and Sierra Ramberg; as well as great-nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father-in-law, Richard Ressler.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Service Dogs of America, Jud, ND,  www.servicedogsforamerica.org; Sanford Fargo Hospice, 800 N 4^th St, Fargo, ND 58102; or Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, www.pancan.org.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Thursday, March 3, at 1:00 p.m., in Olivet Lutheran Church, Fargo. Family and friends will gather at the Armory Event Center in Moorhead following the service.

Brian was not much for dressing up so please wear something casual or your favorite jeans.