James F. Coonce (1922-2003)

COONCE

Posted By: Arizona Sunshine
Date: 3/30/2003 at 09:37:19

The Daily Nonpareil
24 March 2003

James F. Coonce

Mass of Christian burial for Command Sgt. Maj. James Frederick Coonce (Ret), 80, of Council Bluffs will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Queen of the Apostles Church with the Rev. Dan Kirby officiating.

Mr. Coonce died March 22 in Omaha.

He was born Dec. 4, 1922, in Washington, Kan., to Noah J. Coonce and Mary L. Steinhauer. He lived in Council Bluffs 33 years. He graduated from Falls City High School. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War. He was command seargent major in the U.S. Army from 1942-1970. From 1970-1978 he was a recruiter in Omaha for the Army. He served in the Army for 36 years. He was a member of Queen of Apostles Church, Knights of Columbus, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post. No. 737. He received numerous medals during his career.

Mr. Coonce and his wife, Gloria Ann, were married 57 years. He was preceded in death by his grandson, Jonathan Coonce, parents Noah J. and Mary Coonce; brothers, George, Norman, Robert and Ronnie Coonce, and sister, Lula Hall.

Survivors in addition to his wife include two sons, Jim J. and wife, Tammy, and Joe J. and wife, Rhonda, all of Council Bluffs; daughters, Linda Laughlin and husband, Michael, of Imogene, Mary Anne Keefe and husband, Robert, Cheryl Gray, Anne Coonce and Elizabeth Selman and husband, Rick, all of Council Bluffs; 11 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; three brothers, Kenneth and wife, Mary Lou, of Falls City, Neb., Bill Coonce of Kansas City, Mo., and John and wife, Edna, of Rulo, Neb.; sisters, Maxine Dannecker, Ramona Eckley and Beverly Simpson all of Rulo, Mary Lou Hill and husband, David, of Biggsville, Ill., Inez Foster and husband, Kenneth, of Louisville, Texas, and Mary Helen Croxton and husband, Victor, of Powhattan, Kan.; nieces and nephews.

Rosary recitation will be Tuesday at 7 p.m. with visitation to follow at Cutler-O'Neill-Meyer-Woodring Funeral Home. Burial will be at Holy Sepulchere Cemetery in Omaha with full military honors by American Legion Post No. 2 with a luncheon to follow at the church.

Memorials may be offered to Douglas County Hospital Nursing Home and Queen of Apostles Church.

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