Helping Families and Friends Honor Their Loved One for over 100 years.

Rex E. Coatney

A memorial fund has been established.

Interment will be held in the Glenwood Cemetery.

Rex E. Coatney, son of Cecil and Norma Maag Coatney was born April 25, 1928 in Auburn, Nebraska. He attended school (kindergarten through college) in Peru, Nebraska. Following graduation from college he served 2 years in the military during the Korean War. Twenty-one months of that time was spent overseas.

On June 19, 1954 in Mt. Etna, Adams Co., Iowa, Rex married Anita Rogers and to this union 3 children were born; Rhonda, Randall and Russell.

Rex coached and taught in Kansas, was superintendent of schools in Cook, Nebraska, came to Glenwood as Jr. High Principal in 1960, and later served as High School principal in Sidney, Iowa. Along with coaching and teaching, Rex especially enjoyed officiating at high school football games. Rex and Anita purchased the former Charleston’s Clothing Store in Glenwood in 1965 and continued to operate it until January of 1993.

Rex was a long time member of Grace United Methodist Church in Glenwood and throughout the years, served on its many boards. For several years he was a lay delegate to Annual Conference. For 12 years he was a member of the Glenwood School Board, twice serving as president. He also served as president of the Area Education Board. He was a former member of the Glenwood Chamber of Commerce, serving for one term as its president. He was a past member of the city planning and zoning board, on the board of directors of the Glenwood Golf Course, and had formerly been a member of the Glenwood Rotary and Lions Club as well as having been commander of the American Legion in Glenwood. He was a 50 year plus member of the Masonic Lodge # 14 in Peru, Nebraska. For many years he was a member of the Tangier Shrine in Omaha, Nebraska and especially enjoyed the times the Shriners took the 5th graders to the circus in Omaha.

After Rex and Anita retired they spent several months each year in Arizona. Rex was an avid golfer and appreciated being able to play in the winter too! Both Rex and Anita enjoyed having time to spend with each of their children and grandchildren and loved following their activities.

Rex entered into eternal rest on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 at his home in Glenwood.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Boyd Coatney in 1985.

Survivors include his wife, Anita; children Rhonda E. and husband Kevin Rippey of Ames, Iowa; Randall E. and wife Lisa Coatney of Lafayette, Colorado; Russell E. and wife Brenda Coatney of Tulsa, Oklahoma; 10 grandchildren; Christy and husband Tim and children Audrey, Norah and Justus McCollough of Ames, Iowa; Kyle Coatney Rippey of Atlanta, Georgia, Eric, Emily, Sarabeth, Caroline, Kellie, and Allison Coatney of Tulsa, Oklahoma; John and Ben Coatney of Lafayette, Colorado; sister-in-law Marilyn Coatney of Peru, Nebraska; sister-in-law Enid Grundman of Corning, Iowa; brother and sister-in-law Louis and Evelyn Rogers of Sallisaw, Oklahoma; brother-in-law Varel Dodge; many nieces, nephews and friends.

Rex never knew a stranger and truly loved people.

Visitation:Friday, November 25, 2011
6:00 PM
212 S. Locust St.
Glenwood, IA51534

Service:Saturday, November 26, 2011
11:00 AM
112 N. Walnut St.
Glenwood, IA51534

22 Condolences

  • Rev. George Bardsley Posted November 28, 2011 12:00 am

    Anita, I was so shocked to hear of Rex’s Passing. I always considered him a friend – he always came and visited with me after chapel and we found we were brothers not only in Christ but also through the Masonic and Shrine families.

    Jesus said “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted”. I trust our gracious God has indeed comported you. We are sure of where Rex is now – and when our time comes we will join him for eternity.

    God Bless. I trust that you will return to your Arizona home in due time and we will meet again.

    Every Blessing

    George

  • Helen and Ray Posted November 28, 2011 12:00 am

    Dear Anita and family,

    Ray and I are so terribly sorry to learn of Rex’s passing and we send you our deepest sympathy. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

    Sincerely,

    Helen MacFarlane and Ray Meade

    Ottawa, Canada and Desert Sun,

    Arizona

  • Deb Blume & framily Posted November 23, 2011 12:00 am

    We will miss him so much!!! Childhood wouldn’t have been the same without him. Love to you, Aunt Anita, and to Rhonda, Randy & Russell and all their families. Will see you Saturday.

  • Clarence & Helen Posted November 23, 2011 12:00 am

    We were shocked to hear of Rex’s passing and send our love and sympathy to you, Anita, and Rhonda,

    Randy and Russ. At times like this, Arizona seems so far from Iowa. May God bless you all.

  • Robin Zanders Simmons Posted November 23, 2011 12:00 am

    I am so sorry for your loss. I will really miss seeing Rex at Memorial Stadium. He always stopped and said “hello” to Pam and I on his way to his seat. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.

  • Gary and Eliz Erbes Posted November 23, 2011 12:00 am

    We have you in our thoughts and prayers. I thoroughly enjoyed our golf outings with Rex, Kevin, and Kyle. It was truly remarkable that Rex could still outhit all us youngsters most of the time!

  • Larry and Carol Hurst & family Posted November 23, 2011 12:00 am

    We are so very sorry for your loss. Rex will be missed terribly by his church family. It was always great to run into him at church and try to beat him to the punch before he could say something funny to you. His sense of humor, great stories and love for life will be missed by all who knew him. Anita we are praying for you and your wonderful family.

  • Heather (Hurst) and Bryan Diekmann Posted November 23, 2011 12:00 am

    We are so sorry for your loss. I was so happy to know Rex growing up. He always had a smile on his face. I will never forgot the stories he shared about Peru. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.

    God Bless

  • Rosemary Kingery Conner Posted November 24, 2011 12:00 am

    We are sorry for your loss, we have you in our

    thoughts and prayers.

  • Julie James Posted November 25, 2011 12:00 am

    Dear Coatneys,

    Dennis and I will never forget having Rex and Anita on our honeymoon with us 33 yrs ago! As we borderd our flight out of Omaha to Las Vegas, I looked down the seating aisle, I looked up and there was Rex just smiling as big as ever. Of course he asked what had we been up to…and beening a newley wed bride my face turn bright red. I remember the “Coatney” Days quite well, but most of all remembering all the school fuctions I went through with Randy. Rex was always good on keeping me updated on the kids as I would see him on and off through the years. Please know my thoughts and prayers are with you all at such a difficult time.

    As Always, Julie Detlef James

  • Bob & Marilyn Younger Posted November 25, 2011 12:00 am

    To the Coatney Family – all of you have our deepest sympathy. We were so fortunate to have been friends at DS. Rex was a happy man and nice to be around. Kyle, we are Clete and Haley’s grandparents. They were here today and we told them of your loss.

    Love and Hugs

    Bob and Marilyn Younger

  • Melissa Hansen Posted November 25, 2011 12:00 am

    To the Coatney family – I was so sorry to hear about Rex passing. I’m so glad that I got to see him at my father’s memorial. Rex will always hold a special place in my heart. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Anita, here is a big hug coming your way. I can just bet that my dad (Arlo) and Rex are hanging out in heaven like old times. Wish I could be at the service, but I am thinking of you all.

    Love,

    Melissa Hansen

  • Marylou Hansen-Rudnik Posted November 25, 2011 12:00 am

    Dear Anita and Family–I was so saddened to hear of Rex’s passing. I am so sorry that I will not be there. A card will be following.

    I am so glad I got to visit with you both last year at Arlo’s memorial service. Melissa, DeAnn and I have such good memories of our time in

    Glenwood. This is really hard so I’ll end by saying how much we love you.

    God Bless and Keep you!

    Mary lou Hansen-Rudnik

  • Robert Oetken Posted November 26, 2011 12:00 am

    Rex was superintendent when i graduated from high school in Cook Ne. lots of good memories

  • Joan and Will Nistler Posted November 26, 2011 12:00 am

    We are so sorry to hear of Rex’s passing. He was such a great guy.

    May the many great memories of him bring you comfort in the days ahead.

    Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time. God Bless!

    Joan and Will #313 at DS

  • J.D. & Mary Andrews Posted November 27, 2011 12:00 am

    So sorry to hear sbout Rex. Although we never had the pleasure of meeting their offsprings, we know that you were very fortunate to have such fine parents. We enjoyed Rex and his sense of humor and Anita as choir director. Our thoughts are with you. We will miss our Desert Sun Friend.

  • Barbara and Idwin Posted November 27, 2011 12:00 am

    Anita and Family,

    Words can not express how we feel. We thought the world of Rex and will miss him very much.

    He had the biggest smile and warm personality!

    Our deepest sympathy to all of you.

    Our Love and Prayers,

    Barbara and Idwin

  • Harriet Kartes Posted November 28, 2011 12:00 am

    I would like to express my sympathy to you and your family. He will be greatly missed by his Desert Sun family.

    Harriet Kartes

  • Elton & Helen Lovro Posted November 28, 2011 12:00 am

    Anita and Family, We were so sorry to hear of Rex’s death, I think of him as having a smile on his face and always greeting people down at

    Desert Sun. I marveled at his ability to stand up in front of people and do his presentation so beautifully. Our shympathy and prayers to all of you. Elton and Helen Lovro

  • Pam & Lyle Mayberry Posted November 29, 2011 12:00 am

    Dear Coatney Family – We were out of town when we learned of the passing of Rex. Please know what an impact he had on our lives. Rex was my principal when he brought the news of President Kennedy’s death, a day I will never forget. He & Anita let me put clothes on lay-a-way at COATNEY’S,even thought I was only 13 at the time, as he knew I was working nights at the local laundry. He coaxed Lyle into coaching little league baseball in 1969, a job that led him into coaching many sport teams over the years, something he does even now with our grandkids. Thank You all for sharing him with all of us; we will miss his huge smile and ornery laugh! Pam & Lyle

  • Bob and Lorianne Schmidt Posted November 29, 2011 12:00 am

    Hi Anita and Family So sorry to hear about your loss. I always thought Rex was such a fine man. I will always remember him explaining the US election system to us a few years ago. We wondered how things worked and he made it easy for us to understand.

    We wish you all the best at this time. Lorianne and Bob

  • Sharon and Jim Wharton Posted November 30, 2011 12:00 am

    We extend our deepest sympathy to you, Anita, and your family. We will miss Rex at D.S. this winter. Like everyone else, he had a great smile, personality and a contagious laugh. Sincerely, Sharon and Jim Wharton

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