Coleman, Joan Ruth

Joan Ruth Coleman, 68, of Cedar Rapids, went to be with the Lord, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012, at the Hospice House of Mercy with her niece, Annette Nucaro by her side. Services: 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 6, at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories. Pastors Kirk Statler and Richard Ernest of Hillside Wesleyan Church will be officiating. Visitation will be from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home and 10 a.m. Monday. Burial: Circle Grove Cemetery, rural Walker.

Joan Ruth Sailer, daughter of Dale and Kathryn (Pischel) Sailer was born at Carroll, Iowa, on June 1, 1944. She lived her youth in Coon Rapids and Walker, Iowa, graduating from Walker High School in 1962. She was united in marriage to Leslie P. Coleman at the Hoover Wesleyan Church, near Troy Mills, Iowa, on July 13, 1963. He died on May 20, 1992.

Following their marriage, they lived in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where Joan worked at Rockwell Collins and later joined St. Luke's Food Service, working 24 years as cashier. Joan enjoyed many summers boating and motorcycling with her husband and friends. Joan's hobby was photography. She would take photos of those she knew and later send them in birthday and anniversary cards. She would laminate articles and photos from newspapers and personally distribute them to family and friends.

Joan's greatest joy was children. She taught preschool Sunday school at Hillside Wesleyan Church, where she was also a member of the Women's Missionary Society. She will be remembered as a wonderful daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt and grandmother who would do anything for her children, grandchildren, and her family and friends.

She is survived by her sons, Roger (Lisa) Coleman of Urbana, Jack (Lindsey) Coleman of Cedar Rapids; 11 grandchildren; her brothers, Dick (Leota) Sailer of Independence, and David (Kathy) Sailer of Baytown, Texas; sisters, Marjory (William) Kirkpatrick of Cedar Rapids, Eva (Gary) Mueller of Albuquerque, N.M., and Carol (LeRoy) Haberl of Carroll; sisters-in-law, Alice Heinrich of Independence, Thelma Johnson of Mount Morris, Mich., and RoNay (Robert) Divis of Cedar Rapids; brother-in-law, Ronald (Linda) Coleman of Kansas City, Mo.; many nieces and nephews; and many loving relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Leslie; and her sister, Thelma (2008).

Joan was blessed with a kind and loving heart.

”But Jesus called for them, saying, ‘Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.' ” - Luke 18:16

The family wishes to extend their thanks to her care givers: Sister Marjory Kirkpatrick and two nieces, Tanya Kirkpatrick and Annette (Kirkpatrick) Nucaro. Their many years of care including the hours they shared during her doctor visits and days as a patient in the hospital are greatly appreciated.

Published in The Gazette Aug. 4, 2012.