Gary A. COATES

COATES, DISHMAN, TRAXLER, RAETHER, VANSCHYNDEL, WISLEY, WEBER, DAMPIER, FANCHER, MCGRATH, PAUTZ, VOS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 12/20/2008 at 10:39:19

Watertown Daily Times
Watertown, Wisconsin
November 19, 2008

LAKE MILLS - Gary A. Coates, 71, of Lake Mills, passed away on Monday, Nov. 17, 2008. He was born on July 4, 1937, in Clarion, Iowa, son of Archie and Bernice (Dishman) Coates. He grew up on the family farm in the Oak Hill area outside of Palmyra, where he attended grade school and later Palmyra High School. Gary married the former Marian Traxler on Oct. 22, 1958. He was an avid fisherman and hunter, and is in the Boone & Crocket Record Book for his 1970 state record white-tailed deer. Gary also loved the Green Bay Packers. He and his family vacationed for many years at their lake home in Mercer.

He is survived by his mother, Bernice of Lake Mills; his wife, Marian, and their daughters, Debbra (Rod Vanschyndel) Raether of Kiel, Becky (Dustin) Weber of Lake Mills, Jody (Duane) Dampier of Plainfield and Amy (Christopher) Wisley of Lake Mills; grandchildren, David Fancher of Madison, Jeffrey Fancher of Lake Mills, Corey McGrath of Lake Mills, Debbie Weber of Lake Mills, Steven Raether of Kiel, Lillian Raether of Kiel, Brandon Pautz of Plainfield, Lisa McGrath of Lake Mills, Breenna Dampier of Plainfield, Elizabeth McGrath of Lake Mills and Madison Wisley of Lake Mills. He is also survived by his brother, Robert (Betty Vos) Coates of Mason City, Iowa, and many relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Archie; his son, Jeffrey; and a grandson, Wyatt.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday at 5 p.m. at United Methodist Church in Lake Mills with the Rev. Jeffrey Nicholas officiating. Interment will be held at a later time in Mercer Cemetery, Mercer. Friends may call from 3 p.m. on Thursday at the church until the time of service. Memorials may be made to Rainbow Hospice Inc. The Claussen Funeral Home is assisting the family. Claussen Funeral Home 416 W. Lake St. Lake Mills, Wisconsin.