KROESE, Coe John Jr, Colonel USAF (Ret.), age 89, passed away on Saturday, January 29 in Athens, Texas. Born on November 7, 1932 in Adams, Nebraska, Coe grew up mostly outside Cook, Nebraska. He received a BS from the University of Nebraska and MBA from Texas A&M University. Coe’s life included great service to his country; highlights of his USAF career include 217 F-4 Phantom combat missions in Vietnam (earning a Silver Star and 2 DFCs), flying B-52 rotations during the Cuban Missile Crisis, leading data center upgrades for the entire Pacific Air Forces Command, and training new Luftwaffe pilots in post-WW2 Germany. After USAF retirement he used his technical and management skills for many years at Lincoln Telephone & Telegraph. But Coe’s higher priority was always church and family. The Kroese family supported churches throughout the world, most recently a long membership at Denton Bible Church in Denton, Texas. Coe and wife Donna served a missionary church in Japan for two years, and other mission work in Mongolia, Peru and elsewhere. He led prison ministries and church or school boards for Denton and other congregations. The son of a farm family, Coe always kept an immaculate yard – and his sons would hear of it if the plants weren’t properly watered…

Coe was preceded in death by his parents, Coe Sr. and Lucy, by beloved wife of 65 years, Donna, as well as by siblings Dwaine, Donald and Ted. He is survived by siblings Margaret, Ira and Jerry; son Doug with wife Frances, son Jeffrey with wife Carolyn, and son Gregg; grandsons Zachary with wife Rachel and Cameron with wife Ashley; granddaughters Shanna, Bethany, Lani with husband Ouwen, and Jessica; great-grandson Camden and great-granddaughter Caylee; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends. His memorial service was held in April at Denton Bible Church. Coe and Donna’s joint interment, accompanied by a military honor guard, will take place at Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, Nebraska on 24 June 2022 at 1:30 PM. Friends wishing to pay respects are welcome to join us at the event.