Obituaries

Bill Gene Coleman, 1938 – 2026

Bill G. Coleman was born January 11, 1938 in San Angelo, Texas to Richard and Billie Faye Coleman. He passed away October 20, 2026 at the age of 88. Bill attended elementary and high school in Miles, Texas. After graduating from high school, he attended college at San Angelo Junior College and Texas Technological University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Vocational Agriculture in 1961. All through school, he participated in a number of livestock judging contests. After moving his family to Iowa, he earned an Industrial Arts Degree from Northwest Missouri State University. He was united in marriage to Diane McDowell on August 23, 1959, and they were married for 67 years. To this union, two children were born: daughter Lesley and son Kendall. The family lived in Texas until 1962 and then moved to lowa where Bill got a teaching position at Murray High. During his lifetime, Bill enjoyed teaching Agriculture and Industrial Arts. He taught for 32 years in three different schools. One of his favorite hobbies was woodworking, a passion that started in the 8th grade and continued throughout his life. In 1976, he built an A-frame guest house on a farm in Kellerton, lowa and operated it for 34 years. During that time, 4800 guests from 34 states and 11 foreign countries stayed at Coleman's Country Cabin. The family enjoyed traveling, back and forth to Texas, as well as to New York City, the Panama Canal, Canada, and numerous bus trips across the USA. Bill was baptized in the Baptist Church in Miles, Texas, in 1945 at the age of 7. During his lifetime, he remained active in the church: teaching Sunday School, singing in the choir, serving on committees, and supporting various building projects. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Leon and Bennie; two sisters, Jane Mock and Sue Darbyshire; a brother-in-law, John Darbyshire; and a daughter-in-law, Chris Coleman. Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Diane; daughter, Lesley (David) Smid; son, Kendall (Jeanine) Coleman; two granddaughters, Erin (Chris) Mack of Ames, IA and Emily (Derek) Dunn of Carlisle, IA; and five great-grandchildren, Cameron and Elise Mack and Walker, Graham, and Dallas Dunn. Bill had been a resident of the Countryside Assisted Living community in King City, Missouri for the last 21 months. A visitation will be from 1:00 – 2:00 PM on Saturday, October 24, 2026 at Immanuel Baptist Church, 4207 Miller St., Bethany, MO 64424. Funeral services will be at 2:00 PM at the church. Burial will follow in the Maple Row Cemetery in Kellerton, IA. Memorials and contributions are suggested to the Immanuel Baptist Church. Online condolences can be left at www.robersonfuneralhome.com.

bethanyclipper October 21, 2026 3 minutes read

Bill G. Coleman was born January 11, 1938 in San Angelo, Texas to Richard and Billie Faye Coleman. He passed away October 20, 2026 at the age of 88.

Bill attended elementary and high school in Miles, Texas. After graduating from high school, he attended college at San Angelo Junior College and Texas Technological University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Vocational Agriculture in 1961. All through school, he participated in a number of livestock judging contests.

After moving his family to Iowa, he earned an Industrial Arts Degree from Northwest Missouri State University.

He was united in marriage to Diane McDowell on August 23, 1959, and they were married for 67 years. To this union, two children were born: daughter Lesley and son Kendall. The family lived in Texas until 1962 and then moved to lowa where Bill got a teaching position at Murray High.

During his lifetime, Bill enjoyed teaching Agriculture and Industrial Arts. He taught for 32 years in three different schools. One of his favorite hobbies was woodworking, a passion that started in the 8th grade and continued throughout his life. In 1976, he built an A-frame guest house on a farm in Kellerton, lowa and operated it for 34 years. During that time, 4800 guests from 34 states and 11 foreign countries stayed at Coleman’s Country Cabin.

The family enjoyed traveling, back and forth to Texas, as well as to New York City, the Panama Canal, Canada, and numerous bus trips across the USA.

Bill was baptized in the Baptist Church in Miles, Texas, in 1945 at the age of 7. During his lifetime, he remained active in the church: teaching Sunday School, singing in the choir, serving on committees, and supporting various building projects.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Leon and Bennie; two sisters, Jane Mock and Sue Darbyshire; a brother-in-law, John Darbyshire; and a daughter-in-law, Chris Coleman. Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Diane; daughter, Lesley (David) Smid; son, Kendall (Jeanine) Coleman; two granddaughters, Erin (Chris) Mack of Ames, IA and Emily (Derek) Dunn of Carlisle, IA; and five great-grandchildren, Cameron and Elise Mack and Walker, Graham, and Dallas Dunn.

Bill had been a resident of the Countryside Assisted Living community in King City, Missouri for the last 21 months.

A visitation will be from 1:00 – 2:00 PM on Saturday, October 24, 2026 at Immanuel Baptist Church, 4207 Miller St., Bethany, MO 64424. Funeral services will be at 2:00 PM at the church. Burial will follow in the Maple Row Cemetery in Kellerton, IA. Memorials and contributions are suggested to the Immanuel Baptist Church. Online condolences can be left at www.robersonfuneralhome.com.