William Coats

William C. 'Bill' Coats, 82, a rural farmer, of 2770 N. Liberty Ave., Juniata, Nebraska, died Monday, March 18, 2002 at Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital.

Services will be Friday, March 22, 2002; 10:00 A.M. at Butler-Volland Chapel with Rev. Thomas Murray officiating. Burial with military rites will be in Juniata Cemetery, Juniata, Nebraska.

William C. 'Bill' Coats was born February 24, 1920 in Juniata, Nebraska to William J. & Anna (Woolington) Coats. He graduated from Juniata High School, Juniata, Nebraska in 1939. He served in the United States Army during WWII from January 26, 1942 to December 29, 1945. He was staff sergeant in the South West Pacific for 3 years. On January 22, 1946, he married Beverly Gangwish at Juniata, Nebraska. He was a charter member of the Juniata American Legion Post #365. He was a stockholder in the Farmers Union Co-op Gas & Oil and Heartland Co-op of Juniata. He was a volunteer fireman and a past member of the Juniata Chamber of Commerce. He was the owner of Coats Implement in Hastings, Nebraska and coached Little League, Big League and Junior Legion Baseball for almost 20 years. He was a member of Juniata Community Church.

William C. 'Bill' Coats was preceded in death by his parents, a son Jack; daughter Jean, an infant brother, Joseph and granddaughter, Theresa.

Survivors include,
Wife: Beverly Coats - Juniata, NE
Sons: William E. Coats - Juniata, NE
Gary Coats - San Angelo, TX
Larry Coats - San Angelo, TX
John Coats - Hastings, NE
Daughters: Joan Jeys - Elm Creek, NE
Betty Zabel - Lafayette, CO
Rogene Packer - Cairo, NE
22 Grandchildren
8 Great Grandchildren

Memorial may be given to Juniata Community Church

VISITATION:
Wed. 03-20-02; Noon-9pm
Thur. 03-21-02; 9am-9pm with family present from 7pm-9pm
Fri. 03-22-02; 9am until service time