DON COE

Obituary - Donald Lavern Coe, Sr. Donald Lavern Coe, Sr., was born July 21, 1936, in Des Moines, Iowa, to Olen Oliver and Bernice Helen (Dietz) Coe. He left this life from the Centerville Specialty Care Center in Centerville, Iowa on October 14, 2025. Don married Norma Cady in 1955. They were parents to a son, Donnie, who passed away at one year of age. They later divorced and in 1962, Don married Charlett Rusher. They were blessed with four sons, Scott, Ronald, Douglas, and Donald Jr. and two daughters, Loretta and Charlene. They spent 42 years together before she passed away April 24 2004. When they retired instead of moving south to a different state they found a 20 acre farm in Plano, IA that they both loved. They lived there together from 1997 til Charlett passed away in 2004.. A few years later, Don met Debra Jolene Horney. They married in August of 2009, and enjoyed each others company at their Plano, Iowa home. Don’s working career started in the United States Army. He served two tours in Germany as a combat engineer building bridges. He worked for his brother-in-law, Delbert Lee, as a laborer building block basements in the Des Moines area, including helping build the ValAir Ballroom. He later worked at the Ford Motor Company in Kansas City, Missouri, drove a route truck for Aramark Laundry Service, and drove hotshot loads for his brother, Larry. In his free time, Don enjoyed camping and fishing, playing guitar in a band, and hosting many jam sessions at his Plano, Iowa farm. Preceding him in death were his parents; wife, Charlett Coe; his sons Donald Olen Coe, Scott Lavern Coe, a granddaughter; and a great grandson. Survivors include his wife, Debra Coe of Plano; children, Ron Coe, Doug Coe, Lori & Scott Halsted, Don Jr. & Karla Coe, and Charlene & Skip Cantwell, all of Des Moines, Iowa; 28 grandchildren, including their spouses; 24 great grandchildrenplus one on the way; five great, great grandchildren; nieces and nephews; and other relatives and many friends. Funeral services will be held at the Slade - O’Donnell Funeral Home in Leon, Iowa at 10 a.m. Monday, October 20, 2025, with Pastor Ron Helton officiating. Burial will follow in the Linn Grove Cemetery, Norwalk, Iowa with a 2:30 p.m. committal service. The family will receive friends 9-10 a.m. Monday morning before the service. A memorial fund has been established by the family.