Robert Coates

Robert Arthur Coates was born on January 11, 1925 in Chicago, IL to Arthur and Sadie (Lundquist) Coates. He attended schools in Illinois, Kansas, and Minnesota. Bob graduated from Brandon High School in 1943. He enlisted in the Army where he served three years with one of them in the South Pacific. Bob was injured and spent three months recovering in the hospital and was sent to Minneapolis as an MP. Bob was married to Dorothy Smith in 1945 in West St. Paul. To this union four children were born: Gary, Sandra, Richard and Kathleen. Bob worked at West Publishing as a bookbinder for twenty-four years. He was on the city council in St. Paul Park for ten years. In 1968, he married Marion Pientka of Roseville and moved to California in 1970. Bob worked sixteen years with the California Highway Patrol building radio sites in the mountains. He retired in 1990 and the couple moved to Shelton, WA. Marion died in 1994, and Bob moved back to Minnesota in 1995. Later in 1995, Bob married Elreen Klimek and the couple enjoyed wintering in Arizona until 2005. Bob enjoyed golfing, fishing, playing pool, cards, reading, painting and woodworking. He also enjoyed spending time with friends and family. Bob died on Tuesday, April 23, 2013 at the Douglas County Hospital in Alexandria at the age of 88. He is survived by his wife, Elreen of Alexandria; sons, Gary Coates of Apple Valley and Rick Coates of Cottage Grove; daughters, Sandy (Dennis) Fuhrman of Morris and Kathy Weirens of Cottage Grove; step-sons, Gary (Doreen) Klimek of Muncy, PA, Kevin (Carmen) Klimek of Denver, CO, Bryan (Jos) Klimek of Rochester, MN; step-daughters, Kathy (Ron) Woltjer of Elbow Lake and Esther (Kent) Skoglund of Willmar; 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; 12 step-grandchildren and 7 step-great-grandchildren; brother, Gary Gregg; and sister, Phyllis McCoy. Bob is preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Sadie; wife, Marion; and a teenage brother. A memorial mass was held on Friday, April 26, 2013 at St. Mary?s Catholic Church with Reverend Father Steve Binsfeld officiating. Inurnment was held in Shelton Memorial Park in Shelton, WA. Honorary urn bearers were Bob?s grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Arrangements are with the Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria.