Lilly Koski-Sarberg
Lillian Agatha "Lilly" Koski-Sarberg was born on May 11, 1910, the oldest daughter of Alfred and Elizabeth Koski. Lilly quit school in the sixth grade to help her mother care for the growing Koski family.
When Elizabeth Koski died, the Koski family was left in a precarious position. There was talk of splitting up the family, sending the children to live with different families. Lilly was just 21 years old, but she had promised her mother that she would keep the family together. It was her hard work and dedication that kept the family together. In a very real sense, the Koski family and Ordinary Heroes: Six Stars in the Window exist because of the devotion of Lilly Koski-Sarberg.
Lilly did not marry until after the youngest Koski child, Edna Mae, married and moved out of the Koski house. Lilly then finally married her sweetheart, George Sarberg. They moved into the Sarberg house just a few blocks west of the Koski home.
Lilly died on July 27, 1983. George died a few years later.
Since they married so late in life, Lilly and George never had children of their own. But, in a very real sense, Lilly was the mother for the youngest Koski children and a grandmother to their children.
She is fondly remembered as a loving and gentle soul.
1. Colorized photo of Lilly.
2. Lilly as a young woman.
Copyright 2007 by Dan Oja