Obit: Coates, Richard (1888 - 1959)

Contact:stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Coates, Brock, Larsen, Johnson

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., Wis.)  11/12/1959

Coates, Richard (20 MAY 1888 - 7 NOV 1959)

Richard (Dick) Coates, a resident of this community for the past 55 years, passed away of Leukemia at the Luther Hospital at Eau Claire on Saturday, Nov. 7^th, 1959.  He had reached the age of 71 years and 5 months.  Dick contracted this ailment several years ago and fought it constantly since that time.  He was active up until about three weeks ago when he gradually grew weaker, and was forced to remain in the hospital.  The best of doctors and care failed to help in this, his last rally.

Mr. Coates was born in Lafayette County on May 20, 1888, came to Thorp (Clark Co., Wis.) in 1904 and settled on a farm in the Town of Reseburg, which he continued to operate until retirement in 1946.

On Jan. 17, 1912 he was united in marriage to Alma Brock of the Town of Reseburg, at Stanley, Wis.  They moved to the village of Thorp in 1946 with their family and this was his home until death.

He was a man who was devoted to services to his community and served as chairman of the Town of Reseburg for many years, as well as a school district officer.  As a resident of Thorp he was elected in May as the first Fourth Ward alderman and supervisor, which office he held and served well for ten years.  He served for a number of years on the board of directors of the Peoples Exchange Bank, which position he held at death.

Besides his wife, he leaves to mourn three sons, Merlin H. and Raymond H. Coates of Minneapolis, and Glenn R. Coates of Racine, Wis.; one daughter, Roxey, Mrs. Thorvald Larsen of Sussex, Wis.; one sister, Ella Johnson of Chicago, and many friends.

Funeral services were held at the Methodist Church at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, Rev. C. Ward officiating, and Masonic services conducted by Ray Arndt, Worshipful Master of Thorp Lodge No. 264, at the church and grave at Riverside Cemetery near Black River.  Pallbearers were Wm. J. Klouda, Russell Mead, Kenneth Lindquist, Wm. S. Wagner, Harry Quelle and Anton Gulczynski.