Harold William Coleman departed this earthly life, at Brookstone View in Broken Bow, Nebraska, on October 15, 2018, at the age of 94, while holding the hand of his beloved wife of 70 years. He loved holding her hand. He would reach out to hold her hand in the middle of the night, at church or anywhere they were.
Harold was born on October 31, 1923, to Cecil Perry Coleman and Fern Christina Schaad Coleman in their farm home on Cliff Table west of Merna, Nebraska.
Harold attended Cliff grade school. He graduated from Merna High School in 1941.
When Harold was young, his father died, resulting in Harold farming for his mother until 1945 when he was drafted into the United States Army. He was honorably discharged on November 30, 1946. He returned to the farm and married Mildred Ruth Adams on May 5, 1948, at the First Presbyterian Church in Broken Bow, Nebraska. Harold and Mildred made their home in the Cliff Community where their four sons were born, Gail William, Dean Harold, Greg Michael, and Neil Alan. He was a member and raised his family attending the Cliff Union Church. He served on the church board and on the Board of Deacons. Harold also served on the Cliff School Board and the Anselmo- Merna School Board. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion Post 50 and a lifetime member of DAV Chapter 41. After the Cliff Church closed, Harold and Mildred attended the First Baptist Church in Arnold, Nebraska, for many years and later began attending and became members of the Broken Bow Berean Bible Church.
Harold had a desire to learn to fly an airplane. He took flying lessons under the direction of Clarence Romans and received his private pilot’s license. One day while Harold was flying with Clarence, in a two-seat plane, he saw his future wife, Mildred, walking along the road. They landed the plane on the road and Clarence took Mildred for her first plane ride while Harold waited because there wasn’t room for him. Harold also had a passion for deer hunting which he shared with his sons. He went deer hunting for the first time in Wyoming in 1951. He continued to hunt deer into his 80’s. It was no secret that Harold possessed a strong work ethic that few could duplicate. Even with this work ethic, he would take the first Saturday of deer hunting season off, to hunt with his boys. Harold was also known to roll dice or flip a coin with his friends to see who would pay for coffee. He loved donuts, pecan pie, and homemade German Sweet Chocolate Cake. He loved his wife, sons, grandkids and great grandkids. When the grandchildren were young, Harold and Mildred were known to keep “grandkid bait”, Smarties candies, with them at church. This would entice the grandkids to sit with them, but it also kept them busy and quiet as they tried, slowly and gently, to remove the wrapper to get to the candy.
Harold enjoyed collecting 1/64th and 1/16th size toy tractors, being partial to John Deere. This collection was a highlight for the grandkids to look at when they would come to visit. It was a special day if grandpa would let them pick one out to play with. Harold also enjoyed going to auctions. One of the many things he hoped to find were Nebraska license plates, old and new. His goal, which he achieved, was to collect every year that they had been made. He also collected license plates with the numbers of the year of each family members’ birth.
Harold knew the value and took great pride in completing a good day’s work. He loved farming, especially wheat, and raising good cattle. It was important to him to keep things neat, organized and tidy.
He loved to visit. The coffee pot was always on for anyone who stopped by their home. Harold had a knack for assigning people different nicknames, but somehow you knew exactly who he was talking about. He loved to tease. His dark brown eyes would light up and sparkle and he would get a little side grin.
Harold and Mildred were faithful in attending their grandchildren and great grandchildren’s many events. If they couldn’t make it, there would always be a phone call that night or the next day to see how things went.
Harold was preceded in death by his parents Cecil and Fern Coleman; sister and brother in law Edna and Lawrence Roessler; brother Laurence Coleman; niece Cindy Roessler; niece Sandra Coleman.
He is survived by his wife of 70 years Mildred; sons and wives Gail and Karen, Greeley Colorado; Dean and Melody, Arnold; Greg and LeAnne, Merna and Neil and Diana, Arnold.
Grandchildren Tracy and Eric Simmons, Scottsbluff; Natalie and Joe Cool, Callaway; Heath and Korin Coleman, Greeley; Matthew and Katie Coleman, Arnold; Christina and Jeff Johns, Gering; Aaron and Sara Coleman, Gothenburg; Stephanie and Kris Evans, Broken Bow; Andrea and Mark DeForge, Lincoln; Michaela and Jace Spurling, Milford; Candi and Scott Tucker, Pierce, Colorado; Chad and Alynn Coleman, Anselmo; Lindsey and Matt Taylor, Broken Bow; Kerri and Brandon Owens, Istanbul, Turkey; Logan Coleman, Arnold. Step-grandchildren Nathan Aguallo, Hershey; Casey and Lauren Derr, San Jose, California; Thomas Derr, Hershey, 38 great-grandchildren, a sister in law Theda Coleman and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Services for Harold will be Friday, October 19, 2018, at 10:00 AM at the Berean Bible Church in Broken Bow, Nebraska, with Pastor Larry DeMoss and Pastor Tyce Jensen officiating. Burial will be in the Cliff Cemetery west of Merna. Visitation will be held Thursday, October 18, 2018, at Govier Brothers Mortuary from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The family will greet friends at the Berean Bible Church from 5:00 to 7:00 PM.
Memorials may be made to the Berean Bible Church or to Homeward Trail Bible Camp.
Govier Brother Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.govierbrothers.com
