Roger Coleman 1922-2017
Roger D. Coleman, 95, of Oskaloosa, died Monday, Jan. 29, 2018, at the Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care Center in Kansas City, Mo.
Roger was born Nov. 30, 1922, in Atchison, the only son of Roy David and Della Rebecca Gold Coleman. Roger was a graduate of Atchison High School. He received a bachelor’s degree in agronomy from Kansas State University and a master’s degree in public administration from UMKC. He was an Eagle Scout.
He served in the U.S. Navy from 1941 to 1946 and was stationed in Eureka, Calif., at a Lighter than Air Base and on the USS Lexington Aircraft Carrier as a part of the occupation forces in Japan. Roger farmed at Larkinburg for a few years after graduating from KSU. In 1959 he began working for the USDA Soil Conservation Service (NRCS) in Olathe. He filled several roles, including District Conservationist and Resource Conservationist for the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. He retired in 1992.
Roger was a member of many organizations, including being the oldest member of the Oskaloosa Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow. He was a member of the Social Conservation Society of America and a founder and former president of the Kansas Wildflower Society. He served on the Jefferson County Conservation Board as a supervisor and won several soil conservation awards though the years. He was also a member of the Oskaloosa United Methodist Church and served on several different boards.
Roger married Maxine Grace Davitt while they were in college at KSU on Dec. 23, 1947. She preceded him in death in 1973. He married Jacqueline Louise Merryfield in August of 1974. She preceded him in death on Sept. 9, 2007. He was also preceded in death by a son, Doug Coleman.
Survivors include a son, Donald (Patricia) Coleman, Lenexa; a daughter, Janis (Terry) Abramovitz, Shawnee; and seven grandchildren, Kyle Coleman, Abby Schlieher, Trent Coleman, Melinda Coleman Gibson, Alex Abramovitz, Eric Aschen and Kim Strawn; and nine great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 1 at Barnett Family Funeral Home. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services. Burial will follow in Denison Cemetery, Denison.
Memorial contributions may be made to Oskaloosa United Methodist Church or Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care, sent in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 602, Oskaloosa, KS 66066. Online condolences may be made at www.barnettfamilyfh.com
(PAID OBITUARY)
