Tim Coakley, 73, of Burlington, died at 4:10 p.m. Friday, July 17, 2009, at the Great River Medical Center in West Burlington.
Born Nov. 1, 1935, in Elkhardt, Ind., he was the son of Timothy Joseph and Bessie Pauline Dickey Coakley. On Dec. 29, 1953, he married Patricia Meyer in Burlington.
Tim worked at Champion Spark Plug for 32 years. During that time he helped organize the U.A.W. 1237 union for which he served as President and Bargaining Chairman. He was also a business agent for the Teamsters Union. He retired in 1991.
He was a 1953 graduate of Burlington Catholic High School.
He was a U.S. Air Force Veteran, serving during the Korean War from 1953 until 1957.
He was a member of Ss. Mary and Patrick Catholic Church, West Burlington, Knights of Columbus #568, American Legion Post 52, Anchor Building Corp, for which he served as president, and was also a Black Knight Pallbearer. He was an avid St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Bears fan and loved to golf and work in his yard.
Survivors include his wife, Pat; three sons, Timothy (Terry) Coakley of Fountain Valley, Calif., Douglas (Lori) Coakley and Terry Coakley, both of Burlington; three daughters, Danna Campbell of Kalona, Iowa, Lynn Ingram of Whittier, Calif., and Gena (Rob) Garber of Newton, Iowa; nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; one brother, Michael Coakley of Aliso Viejo, Calif.; three sisters, Jean Lentz of Carlsbad, Calif., Mary Kay Ricker of Lewisburg, Texas, and Susan Lippold of Huntington Beach, Calif.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister, Pat, and one brother-in-law, Tom.
Visitation will be from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. with the family to receive friends following a 6 p.m. rosary service until 8 p.m. Monday, July 20, 2009 at the Hass-Thielen Funeral Home.
The Funeral Mass of the Resurrection for Mr. Coakley will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 21, 2009, at Ss. Mary and Patrick Catholic Church, West Burlington with Father David Steinle as the celebrant. Music will be provided by the Des Moines County Resurrection Choir.
According to Tim’s wishes, his body will be cremated following the funeral Mass. The Graveside Committal Service and Inurnment will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 22, 2009 at Sacred Heart Cemetery with the Fr. Steinle officiating. Full military honors will be rendered by the Burlington Area Veterans Honor Guard.
Memorials have been established for Ss. Mary and Patrick Catholic Church, West Burlington, and the American Cancer Society.
The Hass-Thielen Funeral Home is in care of the arrangements.
A photo tribute can be viewed and condolences can be sent to the family by visiting Tim’s obituary at www.hassthielen.com.
