Gertrude Coen

COEN, SHEA, SOOK

Posted By: Harvey Henry (email)
Date: 4/11/2009 at 08:51:47

April 11, 2009

Gertrude Coen, 92

Gertrude Josephine Shea Coen died peacefully at the age of 92 on April 8, 2009 at Oaknoll Health Center, surrounded by her loving family. Funeral services will be 3 pm Saturday, April 11 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Iowa City. The family will receive friends and family from 1-2:30 pm Saturday, prior to church services, at Lensing Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 605 Kirkwood Avenue, Iowa City.

Gertrude was a long time resident of the Iowa City area, and more recently had resided at Atrium Village in Hills, Iowa and Crestview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in West Branch before moving to Oaknoll in March of 2008.

Gertrude was born on July 24, 1916 in Iowa City, IA, the daughter of J. Edward and Jennie Sook Shea. She married William J. Coen, Jr. on June 4, 1936 in Mexico, MO; they shared a loving life together until Bill's death in 2002. Gertrude was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, and was looking forward to the birth of her first great-grandson this July.

She graduated a class salutatorian from City High School in 1934 and went to work in order to help support her family. She held a number of positions at Housers Jewelry Store, Penneys and Woolworths, where she met her future husband. During World War II she accompanied her husband to Monterrey, CA where he was stationed with the Navy and worked in the Post Office. She was instrumental in apprehending a spy while working there.

Gertrude was a loving, religious and resourceful woman. She loved to dance and she and Bill hosted and attended many square dances where he was a caller. She had a love for travel, and she and Bill visited Russia, Ireland, Africa, Europe, Guam and Taiwan together. While traveling, she took particular pleasure in scouting out unique and meaningful souvenirs and gifts to bring home to friends and family.

Gertrude was a longtime member of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church and had belonged to the Altar and Rosary Society, as well as the Iowa City Women's Club.

Gertrude is survived by her daughter Kathleen Coen Buckwalter and her husband Joseph A. Buckwalter of Iowa City, three grandchildren: grandson Joseph A. Buckwalter V and his wife Allison Hart of La Jolla, CA, granddaughters Andrea Buckwalter Potash and her husband Martin Potash of Iowa City, and Abigail Coen Buckwalter of Minneapolis, MN. Other family she leaves behind include a sister-in-law Vivian Coen Brown, a niece Carole Brown Stitt, and nephews James Coen Brown and Michael A. Shea.

She was preceded in death by her husband, brothers Robert W., Leslie, and Alvin Shea, sister-in-law Florence Shea, brother-in-law Berton Brown, and nephew Bob Brown.

Contributions in her memory may be made to a fund established to support the education of staff at Atrium Village, Oaknoll, Crestview, Amenity Hospice and HomeSafe, where she received competent and compassionate care during the final years of her life. The family wishes to acknowledge the many people who cared for Gertrude over the years at these facilities and organizations, especially Amber and Mary Ann of HomeSafe.

Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.lensingfuneral.com under obituaries.