Richard Allen Coats, 11 Dec 1927 - 13 Dec 2017

COATS, SHERIDAN, BUHR, EVERETT, HINRICHS, MAAS, VAN NEVEL, OETH, BOHAN, JACK, SMITH

Posted By: Sandy Ficken (email)
Date: 3/11/2018 at 17:36:50

Funeral service for Richard A. Coats, 90, rural Victor, was held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 18, at the Smith Funeral Home, Victor. He died Dec. 13, 2017, at his home.

Pastor Michael Kolesar, St. James Lutheran Church, officiated at the service. Organist was Verabeth Bricker, accompanied by Anna Upah as vocalist.

Burial was in the Coats family cemetery, rural Victor. Pallbearers were Christian Hinrichs, Jared Maas, Nolan Van Nevel, Jacob Coats, Conner Maas, Julia Van Nevel, Renee Van Nevel, Haley Coats and Sarah Oeth.

A memorial fund has been established.

Richard Allen Coats was born Dec. 11, 1927, at his family farm home, rural Victor, the son of Noel and Verna Sheridan Coats. He was raised on the farm and attended rural school near his home. Following his education he worked as a farm hand and worked locally. He was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, serving during World War II, and was stationed at Pearl Harbor.

He returned to the farm after his honorable discharge from the service and began farming with his dad. He remained on the family farm his whole life.

On March 21, 1953, he married Lillian Buhr at the Little Brown Church, Nashua. The couple continued to farm together while he also did some custom bulldozing. Lillian passed away in 1992.

Richard met and later married Bernice Everett on April 18, 1998, in Gilbertville. She lovingly cared for Richard until his death.

He held a passion for nature and the outdoors. He loved to hunt and had adventured to several states on hunting excursions. He enjoyed trapping around his farm and fishing. He especially enjoyed the annual fishing trips to Canada. Richard was a person of integrity. He was very honest and very fair to others.

Coats is survived by his wife, Bernice, Victor; five children, Patricia (Duane) Hinrichs, Brooklyn; Debra (Stewart) Maas, Marengo; Wayne Coats, Victor; Lanette (Scott) Van Nevel, Terrebonne, Ore., and David (Tara) Coats, Victor; nine grandchildren, Sarah Oeth, Christian Hinrichs, Jared Maas, Conner Maas, Renee Van Nevel, Julia Van Nevel, Nolan Van Nevel, Haley Coats and Jacob Coats; four great-grandchildren, Quinton and Maddox Oeth and Derek and Coralie Maas; three step-children, James (Phillena) Everett, Jessup; Jerry (Dawn) Everett, Ames, and LuAnn (Mark) Bohan, Mosinee, Wis.; six step-grandchildren, Blake, Shaun, Gregory, Johnathon, Alexis and Jaida; step-great-grandchildren, Zeke, Charlotte, Caroline and Silas; and one brother, Doug (Brenda) Coats, Walla Walla, Wash.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Lillian; an infant son; one grandchild, Derek Maas; two brothers, Robert and David Coats; and two sisters, Nanette Jack and Dorothy Smith.

The Journal Tribune, 20 Dec 2017 pg 8
The Gazette 15 Dec 2017 pg 9a
Warrior Tribune, 20 Dec 2017