Documents

» Show All     «Prev «1 ... 4600 4601 4602 4603 4604 4605 4606 4607 4608 ... 11054» Next»     » Slide Show

Obituary- Coffey, John 1

John Frederick “Fred” Coffey of Osawatomie Ks left this earth on May 17, 2022 at 5:06pm at the age of 86.
Fred was born on May 4, 1936 in Wellsville, Ks to Joseph Richard Coffey and Marybelle Rousselo. Fred was raised by his Uncle Harry and Aunt Etta Gutshall in Rossville, KS on a 360-acre farm. Fred helped with the planting and cultivation of crops such as corn, wheat, and alfalfa and any other chores that needed to be done to keep the farm going. Fred dearly loved his Aunt Etta and appreciated what she did for him. Fred was a 4H member and a boy scout. He attended and graduated from Rossville High School in 1956 and went on to attend the Kansas State University. Fred joined the Navy in 1953 at the end of the Korean war and was assigned to the USS Shangri La; he was a caterpillar tractor operator. He operated a D-W10 in the construction of roads. He had a mechanic rating; with metal shop, machine shop, wood shop, and agriculture studies experience. Fred was honorably discharged in 1955 due to medical injuries.

Fred was a hard worker throughout his life. He worked for Henry Manufacturing, Del Monte Foods for 10 years, the Rochelle Illinois Power Plant for 10 years, operated the Fontana Tavern when he moved back to Kansas. He worked for the LaCygne Power Plant, the Osawatomie State Hospital, Fickel Furniture, and ended his employment at the Happy Valley Ranch with 19 years of employment, when they closed their doors. Fred was 78 years old when he was forced into retirement. Fred said, “I always started at the bottom and worked my way up.”

When asked what some of his proudest accomplishments were, he stated, “I was in the Who’s Who of America, I won four trips through the Ralston Purina Feed; getting to visit Chicago, Washington DC, Corpus Cristi TX, and to St. Louis.” He stated that he once rode to Mississippi on a paddle boat. Fred taught Sunday school to the younger children at the church he attended in his younger years. His first car was a 1941 Ford Coupe that he bought when he was in the 8th grade with his own money. Fred said he had a lot of fun in the backseat of that car.

» Show All     «Prev «1 ... 4600 4601 4602 4603 4604 4605 4606 4607 4608 ... 11054» Next»     » Slide Show