Coxson, Richard Gilbert (1928-2016)

COXSON, EMERSON, ELLINGSON, LYNCH, HACK, MENAGH, MARTIN, LARSON, GOETZ

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 10/8/2016 at 10:04:45

Richard Gilbert Coxson
January 25, 1928 - August 21, 2016

Richard Gilbert Coxson, age 88, died on Sunday, August 21, 2016, at the Mayo Clinic Health System Hospital in Fairmont, Minnesota.

Richard was born in Chicago, Illinois, on January 25, 1928, to Emmett Messina and Alma (Emerson) Coxson. Baptized at the First Presbyterian Church in Arlington Heights, Illinois, he graduated from Augustana Academy in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in 1944. In 1948, he graduated from Luther College with degrees in Business Administration and Math.

On June 13, 1948, he married the love of his life, Ferne Y. Ellingson, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Buffalo Center, Iowa. They lived in Decorah where Dick began work as an accountant. They, then, moved to Estherville, Iowa, where Dick, after having earned a CPA license, opened his own practice. In 1955, they moved to California (Lakewood then Bellflower) where Dick went to work for Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. After a number of years at PMM&Co. he wanted to have his own accounting practice, so he started a new CPA firm in Century City, California, later moving his offices to Cerritos, California, to be nearer to his home. During the time he had his own practice, he and Ferne spent several very enjoyable years in Hawaii. In 1992, after Dick retired from his full-time accounting practice, he and Ferne moved to rural Buffalo Center, Iowa.

Dick’s loved doing jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzles, Sudoku puzzles, and cryptograms. In addition, he enjoyed having family and friends around, telling stories, and taking his 2:00 o'clock nap, which he could take at any time during the day. He loved having decorations out for the holidays, especially the ones that had buttons that made them move and/or made noise. Most of all, however, Dick loved Ferne, and he missed her terribly after she passed a year ago.

Dick and Ferne were blessed with eight children: Pam (David Fairley) Coxson, Jan (Bill) Lynch, Alan (Mary) Coxson, Philip Coxson, Debbie (Ted) Hack, Ruth (Rob) Menagh, Tom (Linda) Coxson, and Rob (Grace) Coxson; thirteen grandchildren: Eugene, Theresa (Dan), Deborah (Aaron), Christine (Clint), Melissa (Baltimore), Allison (Tien), Lindsey, Shannon, Colleen, John, Laurie, Jennie, and Jessica; nine great-grandchildren: Jordan, Grant, Ethan, Kendall, Colby, Kaiden, Jaxson, Logan, and Cora.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Ferne; his mother, Alma Coxson-Martin; his father, Emmett Coxson; his stepfather, Tom Martin; his brother, Emmett Coxson; his daughter, Ruth Menagh; his great-grandson, Jordan Larson; his father- and mother-in-law, Oscar and Emma Ellingson; his brother-in-law, Jim Goetz; and his niece, Kristin Goetz.

A kind, loving, and generous husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend, he could always find the time to help wherever he saw a need. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends and will forever remain within our hearts and memories.

A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 AM, Saturday, August 27, 2016, at his farm home, located at 4903 – 230th Avenue, rural Buffalo Center, Iowa 50424, with Pastors Perry Aalgaard and Judy Wozniak officiating. Inurnment will take place at 12:30 PM, Saturday, in Graceland Cemetery, Buffalo Center, Iowa. There will also be a Memorial Service in California at a later date. In lieu of flowers, his family suggest memorials be made to the American Cancer Society.

Copyright © 2016, Mittelstadt Funeral Home

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