Rex E. Coatney, 83, Glenwood

April 25, 1928 - November 22, 2011

    Rex E. Coatney, 83, of Glenwood, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2011, at his home. Funeral services were held  Saturday, Nov. 26, 2011, at Grace United Methodist Church in Glenwood. Rev. Dean McPherson officiated. Military Rites were provided by the American Legion Post 141. Interment was in the Glenwood Cemetery. A memorial fund has been established. Peterson Mortuary in Glenwood was in charge of the arrangements.
    Rex, son of Cecil and Norma Maag Coatney, was born April 25, 1928, in Auburn, Neb. He attended school (kindergarten through college) in Peru, Neb. Following graduation from college he served two 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 County, Rex married Anita Rogers and to this union, three children were born: Rhonda, Randall and Russell.
    Rex coached and taught in Kansas, was superintendent of schools in Cook, Neb., came to Glenwood as junior high principal in 1960 and later served as high school principal in Sidney. 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 No. 14 in Peru. For many years he was a member of the Tangier Shrine in Omaha, Neb., and especially enjoyed the times the Shriners took the fifth 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.
    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; Randall E. and wife Lisa Coatney of Lafayette, Colo.; Russell E. and wife Brenda Coatney of Tulsa, Okla.; 10 grandchildren: Christy and husband Tim and children Audrey, Norah and Justus McCollough of Ames; Kyle Coatney Rippey of Atlanta, Ga.; Eric, Emily, Sarabeth, Caroline, Kellie, and Allison Coatney of Tulsa, Okla.; John and Ben Coatney of Lafayette; sister-in-law Marilyn Coatney of Peru; sister-in-law Enid Grundman of Corning; brother and sister-in-law Louis and Evelyn Rogers of Sallisaw, Okla.; brother-in-law Varel Dodge; many nieces, nephews and friends. Rex never knew a stranger and truly loved people.