George H. Coffin

George H. Coffin was born January 26, 1925, at Clear Lake, Iowa, to William Henry and Verna Luella Coe Coffin. He died Wednesday, November 21, 2012, at St. Anthonys Nursing Home in Carroll, Iowa, at the age of eighty-seven.
George attended school in Clear Lake and graduated from the Clear Lake Community High School with the class of 1942. In 1943, George joined the United States Army and served in the European Theater during World War II. He was captured by the German Army in December of 1944 during the Battle of the Bulge and remained a prisoner-of-war until April 1945. He was united in marriage to Esther Mae Clark on June 2, 1945, at the Methodist Church in Plymouth, Iowa. Three children were born to that union.
George first worked for Hathorne Motor Company in Mason City, Iowa, and then ran his own service supply company. In 1961, he and his family moved to Westside, Iowa. He joined the Kratoska Insurance Company in Carroll, Iowa, which later became Mid-Iowa Insurance. George remained with the agency until his retirement in 1987. After retiring, he ran Coffin Insurance Brokerage from his home until his health deteriorated.
He was extremely active in his church and community. As a member of United Church, Westside, he served as Elder, chaired many committees, taught Sunday School, and sang in the choir. He also served on many committees at the Presbytery level and served as a lay minister in area churches for many years. He served as president of the Westside Community Club, Commander of the Westside American Legion Post 169, a member of Disabled American Veterans, and Veterans of Foreign Wars. After moving to Westside, he helped to organize a Boy Scout Troop for the Westside area and served as scout master for a number of years. He took special pride in being a volunteer driver for the DAV, taking veterans to the V.A. Hospital in Omaha.
George and Esther enjoyed ballroom dancing and traveling, enjoying many wonderful trips. He loved gardening and growing flowers, and was an avid do-it-yourselfer. Georges faith was a constant part of his life, sustaining him through many difficult times. He was a kind, loving, and generous husband, father, grandfather and friend. He was never happier than when he was able to spend time helping someone who needed it.
He was preceded in death by the love of his life, Esther; his parents; two brothers, William H., Jr., and Ralph E.; and grandson, Christopher at birth. George is survived by his three children, Ron and wife, Dixie, Rick and wife, Sue, and Becky and husband, Jeff; six grandchildren: Gary and wife, Chantil, Amy and husband, Hank, Lieutenant USN Andrew and wife, Jessica, Margaret, Matthew, and Alicia; four great-grandchildren: Geordain, Bryson, Carson, and Jackson; one brother, Clifford and wife, Ruth; and two sisters-in-law, Jeanne and June; other relatives and friends.