Donald Howard Coffman, 87

Donald Howard Coffman was born August 10, 1924, in Albert Lea, Minnesota, to Howard and Agnes (Stauch) Coffman.  He was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea and graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1942. On May 8, 1943, he joined the United States Marine Corps and served in the invasion at Iwo Jima.  Following his honorable discharge on March 28, 1946, he returned to Albert Lea.  On August 11, 1946, Don was united in marriage to Ruth Steele at Pickeral Lake Lutheran Church in rural Albert Lea.  After marriage they made their home in Albert Lea and Don worked for May Engineering.  

In 1951, they moved to Minneapolis and Don worked for Honeywell and attended the University of Minnesota.  In 1958, they moved to Rochester and Don began working for IBM.  In 1974, they moved to Boca Raton, Florida, where Don remained with IBM until retiring in 1986.  They moved to Northfield in 1990.

Don was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and a life member of VFW.  He enjoyed model trains and building remote control airplanes.

Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Ruth; his daughter and son-in-law, Cynthia and Gerald Laude of Rochester; his son and daughter-in-law, Richard and Pam Coffman of Northfield; 5 grandchildren: Joe (Melissa) Laude, Amy Lee (Patrick) Harrington,  Michael (Carla) Laude, Richard Coffman Jr. and Scott Laude; 2 great-grandchildren, Parker and Kaia Harrington;  his sister-in-law, Betty (Sid) Sorbo of Northfield; his brother-in-law, Robert Steele of Albert Lea; nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.  He was preceded in death by parents.

Don passed away Friday Morning, June 1, 2012, at the Three Links Care Center in Northfield, at the age of 87.

Funeral services will be 10:00 AM Tuesday, June 5, 2012, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Northfield with Rev. Brent Klein officiating.   Interment with military honors will be in Ft. Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis.  Honorary pall bearers will be his grandchildren.  Visitation will be 4-6PM Monday, June 4, 2012, at the Benson & Langehough Funeral Home in Northfield.  Visitation will continue at the church on Tuesday one hour prior to the service.  

Arrangements are with the Benson & Langehough Funeral Home.