COLLER, Joe W. 1922-2016

COLLER, CASTOR, BARNES, MORRIS, WITHER

Posted By: K. L. Kittleson
Date: 5/17/2017 at 16:30:58

Services:
Thursday, July 7, 2016 at La Porte City Funeral Home, 606 E. Main St. in La Porte City

Visitation:
Wednesday July 6 and an hour prior to the services on Thursday at the La Porte City Funeral Home.

Cemetery:
West View Cemetery

Memorials:
May be directed to the Alzheimer's Association.

Biography--

Joe W. Coller, age 94, of rural Jesup, died Saturday, July 2, 2016, at Living Center West in Cedar Rapids.

He was born June 11, 1922 in La Porte City, Iowa the son of Hal and Mabel (Castor) Coller. Joe graduated from La Porte City High School with the Class of 1941. He was united in marriage with Bonnie L. Barnes on December 30, 1945 in Waterloo. She preceded him in death on January 27, 2014.

Joe farmed in rural Jesup for many years. He was also employed at Rath Packing Co., working mostly in the loading dock for 25 years and then worked at the Mental Health Institute in Independence for many years, retiring in 1984. Joe was a private pilot and owned his own plane, helicopter and landing strip. He enjoyed working with computers and was a licensed amateur radio operator since 1957 with the call sign KØUPG. He was also a longtime volunteer for the MARS radio network, which assisted active duty military personnel in calling home via shortwave radio.

Survivors include two sons, Jim (Sharon) Coller of Center Point, Iowa, and Frank (Jeanine) Coller of Bettendorf, Iowa; six grandchildren, Brian (Penny) Coller of Center Point, Teresa (Aaron) Cretin of Atkins, Iowa, Jeff (Laura) Coller of Adel, Iowa, Rachel (Jeff) McClain of Chilicothe, Illinois, Dustin Morris, on active duty with the US Navy and Mike (Carolyn) Grinstead of Lakeland, FL; 17 great-grandchildren; and a brother, Donald (JoAnn) Coller of La Porte City.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Bonnie; a daughter, Joan Morris; a granddaughter, Melissa Wither; a great granddaughter, Grace Coller and a brother, Frank Coller.

Source: Kearns Funeral Service