Robert Russell Coon, aka "Bob", or "Uncle Bobby" to his many nieces and nephews, was born at home in Dayton, Ohio, the last of six children of Hugh and Cora Coon. His eldest sibling was twenty years his senior, and the brother closest in age was 10 years older than him. His first nephew was born a day after he was! At times they were even in the same classes at school.
Robert grew up in the Dayton area, and lived and moved to several different locations after his father Hugh Coon died when Robert was six years old. His mother remarried John Bowersock a few years later,and he had a stable and loving home for the rest of the time he lived at home. In school, he loved to read, and began singing in choirs by the time he was in 7th grade.
He first attended church at the age of nine, and made a decision for Christ and was baptized at a Grace Brethren church at the age of 13. The rest of his family didn't attend church but supported his doing so. While there at the church, he developed a lifelong friendship with Ray Rudolph, who passed away in March of 2021.
After high school graduation, though he wanted to attend college, he lacked money, so he joined the Marines and went on Reserve for a year. He liked the look of the Marine uniform. While living in Washington D.C., he heard a call to go into the Christian ministry. One of his jobs was to stand at attention where President Truman's yacht was moored. Three weeks after being discharged, but remaining in the reserves, he had signed up for architect school. The Korean war interrupted that when he was called back into active duty. After training for a time at Camp LeJeune, he was honorably discharged for "medical reasons" (he was unsure why), several days before his platoon was sent overseas. His time in training informed his later counseling of Mennonite Conscientious Objectors during the Viet Nam War. While living in Washington D.C., he had been briefly engaged, but that engagement was short-lived.
He began college at Grace College in Winona Lake, Indiana. He transferred to Bluffton College, Ohio, following his second fiancee there. That relationship ended, and he later started dating, and eventually married Helen Neufeld, whom he had met at Bluffton. He decided he was to be a Mennonite pastor, so he attended Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Chicago. While in the military, he had come to the conclusion that he couldn't bring himself to take a life because "Christ loved and died for all people." A significant highlight of that time spent in Seminary was a summer choir trip to northern U.S and Canada with Helen, whom he had just married on June 24, 1956 (it was rumored that the choir director hastened the wedding date so they could have an alto in the choir!). He loved to tell stories of that trip, traveling in a stretch limo with several other choir members, and took pictures with a camera given to him as a wedding gift.
As a Mennonite (an historic Protestant "Peace Church" denomination) pastor, he served at First Mennonite Church in Chicago, Flanagan Mennonite (IL) Church, First Mennonite Church of Christian in Moundridge, KS, Bethany Mennonite Church, Quakertown, PA, Cordell Mennonite Church, Bessie OK, Deer Creek Mennonite Church, Deer Creek, OK ,Turpin Mennonite, Turpin OK, two congregations in Pekin and East Peoria, IL. Upon his retirement, Bob and Helen served a year as curators and interpreters at Menno-Hof in Shipshewana, Indiana, and made their home in Topeka, IN where they regularly attended and served at the Topeka Mennonite Church. From 2001-2005 Bob and Helen traveled to Dade City, Florida, where he served as Chaplain at Traveler's Rest Campground and resort from Thanksgiving to Easter. Bob and Helen spent much of their spare time in retirement presenting a program of song and story "Faith of Our Mothers and Fathers".
No long life is without struggles, and when Bob was 59, he suffered a mental and emotional breakdown and was hospitalized for six weeks. Since that time, he was not ashamed to say that he was receiving ongoing therapy and medication. He became an advocate for accepting and acknowledging the need for mental health intervention, and for reducing the stigma of mental illness.
In 2005, Helen developed liver disease and passed away in May of 2006, 24 days before what would have been their 50th anniversary. Bob lived in Topeka until 2015, when he moved to Assisted Living at Greencroft in Goshen Indiana. He moved to Healthcare late June 2021, and passed away after a short illness.
Bob's passions were history, genealogy, stamps, story-telling, and his trains. He was a great fan of Charles Dickens: "A Christmas Story", and set up a train village in that theme for many years under the Christmas tree. He loved the gift giving rituals of Christmas and regularly wrapped even the smallest present in comic paper. People would give him their Sunday "Funnies" for years. He loved watching classic horror flicks with old-time actors. He served with the Topeka Historical Society (Indiana) for many years and curated the museum, dressing as a train engineer and giving tours. He was also known for his beautiful bass singing voice, and sang in choirs and solos. His most recent choral activity was singing with the Evergreen Singers in Goshen. He had been looking forward to start singing with them again.
Bob and Helen had three children, 5 grandchildren, and numerous great- and 2 great-great grandchildren. He was a tender, loving father and grandpa who loved to laugh and spend time with family, especially his extended Coon family. He rarely missed a Coon reunion, and was able to attend his last Coon reunion a little over two weeks before he passed away.
_____________
Oh Wizened Eyes, Resplendent (poem by grandson Kenan Schaefkofer in his memory)
"O wizened eyes resplendent, we seek the things you saw,
that urged you to such greatness, and humbled you in awe.
We strive now, as you once strove, toward the beacon, toward the Light.
With forebears inviting, it beckons yet more bright.
Though teary eyes may hinder, and sorrow shroud our way,
what seems to us like evening may just be break of day.
O eager lips of blessing, speak grace for us today,
forgive us and our mourning, our stubborn, petty ways.
We speak now, as you once spoke, prayers and stories, holy jest,
to bolster worn hearts and inspire us to our best.
You uttered bless'd assurance, through strife, your words did calm,
there is afar in Gilead, vouchsafed for us a Balm.
O tremb'ling hands of service, wrap arms around us all.
Take respite from your labors, and joy in heaven's call.
We fight now, as you once fought, not with sword, but plowshare hewn.
Through clangorous war drums you hummed a diff'rent tune:
Ev'ry note is one of justice, each tear can shatter chains,
ev'ry sigh becomes a rush of wind, set free across the plains"
Died on the same date as his mother, 56 years later.
Robert grew up in the Dayton area, and lived and moved to several different locations after his father Hugh Coon died when Robert was six years old. His mother remarried John Bowersock a few years later,and he had a stable and loving home for the rest of the time he lived at home. In school, he loved to read, and began singing in choirs by the time he was in 7th grade.
He first attended church at the age of nine, and made a decision for Christ and was baptized at a Grace Brethren church at the age of 13. The rest of his family didn't attend church but supported his doing so. While there at the church, he developed a lifelong friendship with Ray Rudolph, who passed away in March of 2021.
After high school graduation, though he wanted to attend college, he lacked money, so he joined the Marines and went on Reserve for a year. He liked the look of the Marine uniform. While living in Washington D.C., he heard a call to go into the Christian ministry. One of his jobs was to stand at attention where President Truman's yacht was moored. Three weeks after being discharged, but remaining in the reserves, he had signed up for architect school. The Korean war interrupted that when he was called back into active duty. After training for a time at Camp LeJeune, he was honorably discharged for "medical reasons" (he was unsure why), several days before his platoon was sent overseas. His time in training informed his later counseling of Mennonite Conscientious Objectors during the Viet Nam War. While living in Washington D.C., he had been briefly engaged, but that engagement was short-lived.
He began college at Grace College in Winona Lake, Indiana. He transferred to Bluffton College, Ohio, following his second fiancee there. That relationship ended, and he later started dating, and eventually married Helen Neufeld, whom he had met at Bluffton. He decided he was to be a Mennonite pastor, so he attended Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Chicago. While in the military, he had come to the conclusion that he couldn't bring himself to take a life because "Christ loved and died for all people." A significant highlight of that time spent in Seminary was a summer choir trip to northern U.S and Canada with Helen, whom he had just married on June 24, 1956 (it was rumored that the choir director hastened the wedding date so they could have an alto in the choir!). He loved to tell stories of that trip, traveling in a stretch limo with several other choir members, and took pictures with a camera given to him as a wedding gift.
As a Mennonite (an historic Protestant "Peace Church" denomination) pastor, he served at First Mennonite Church in Chicago, Flanagan Mennonite (IL) Church, First Mennonite Church of Christian in Moundridge, KS, Bethany Mennonite Church, Quakertown, PA, Cordell Mennonite Church, Bessie OK, Deer Creek Mennonite Church, Deer Creek, OK ,Turpin Mennonite, Turpin OK, two congregations in Pekin and East Peoria, IL. Upon his retirement, Bob and Helen served a year as curators and interpreters at Menno-Hof in Shipshewana, Indiana, and made their home in Topeka, IN where they regularly attended and served at the Topeka Mennonite Church. From 2001-2005 Bob and Helen traveled to Dade City, Florida, where he served as Chaplain at Traveler's Rest Campground and resort from Thanksgiving to Easter. Bob and Helen spent much of their spare time in retirement presenting a program of song and story "Faith of Our Mothers and Fathers".
No long life is without struggles, and when Bob was 59, he suffered a mental and emotional breakdown and was hospitalized for six weeks. Since that time, he was not ashamed to say that he was receiving ongoing therapy and medication. He became an advocate for accepting and acknowledging the need for mental health intervention, and for reducing the stigma of mental illness.
In 2005, Helen developed liver disease and passed away in May of 2006, 24 days before what would have been their 50th anniversary. Bob lived in Topeka until 2015, when he moved to Assisted Living at Greencroft in Goshen Indiana. He moved to Healthcare late June 2021, and passed away after a short illness.
Bob's passions were history, genealogy, stamps, story-telling, and his trains. He was a great fan of Charles Dickens: "A Christmas Story", and set up a train village in that theme for many years under the Christmas tree. He loved the gift giving rituals of Christmas and regularly wrapped even the smallest present in comic paper. People would give him their Sunday "Funnies" for years. He loved watching classic horror flicks with old-time actors. He served with the Topeka Historical Society (Indiana) for many years and curated the museum, dressing as a train engineer and giving tours. He was also known for his beautiful bass singing voice, and sang in choirs and solos. His most recent choral activity was singing with the Evergreen Singers in Goshen. He had been looking forward to start singing with them again.
Bob and Helen had three children, 5 grandchildren, and numerous great- and 2 great-great grandchildren. He was a tender, loving father and grandpa who loved to laugh and spend time with family, especially his extended Coon family. He rarely missed a Coon reunion, and was able to attend his last Coon reunion a little over two weeks before he passed away.
_____________
Oh Wizened Eyes, Resplendent (poem by grandson Kenan Schaefkofer in his memory)
"O wizened eyes resplendent, we seek the things you saw,
that urged you to such greatness, and humbled you in awe.
We strive now, as you once strove, toward the beacon, toward the Light.
With forebears inviting, it beckons yet more bright.
Though teary eyes may hinder, and sorrow shroud our way,
what seems to us like evening may just be break of day.
O eager lips of blessing, speak grace for us today,
forgive us and our mourning, our stubborn, petty ways.
We speak now, as you once spoke, prayers and stories, holy jest,
to bolster worn hearts and inspire us to our best.
You uttered bless'd assurance, through strife, your words did calm,
there is afar in Gilead, vouchsafed for us a Balm.
O tremb'ling hands of service, wrap arms around us all.
Take respite from your labors, and joy in heaven's call.
We fight now, as you once fought, not with sword, but plowshare hewn.
Through clangorous war drums you hummed a diff'rent tune:
Ev'ry note is one of justice, each tear can shatter chains,
ev'ry sigh becomes a rush of wind, set free across the plains"
Died on the same date as his mother, 56 years later.
Robert Russell Coon, aka "Bob", or "Uncle Bobby" to his many nieces and nephews, was born at home in Dayton, Ohio, the last of six children of Hugh and Cora Coon. His eldest sibling was twenty years his senior, and the brother closest in age was 10 years older than him. His first nephew was born a day after he was! At times they were even in the same classes at school.
Robert grew up in the Dayton area, and lived and moved to several different locations after his father Hugh Coon died when Robert was six years old. His mother remarried John Bowersock a few years later,and he had a stable and loving home for the rest of the time he lived at home. In school, he loved to read, and began singing in choirs by the time he was in 7th grade.
He first attended church at the age of nine, and made a decision for Christ and was baptized at a Grace Brethren church at the age of 13. The rest of his family didn't attend church but supported his doing so. While there at the church, he developed a lifelong friendship with Ray Rudolph, who passed away in March of 2021.
After high school graduation, though he wanted to attend college, he lacked money, so he joined the Marines and went on Reserve for a year. He liked the look of the Marine uniform. While living in Washington D.C., he heard a call to go into the Christian ministry. One of his jobs was to stand at attention where President Truman's yacht was moored. Three weeks after being discharged, but remaining in the reserves, he had signed up for architect school. The Korean war interrupted that when he was called back into active duty. After training for a time at Camp LeJeune, he was honorably discharged for "medical reasons" (he was unsure why), several days before his platoon was sent overseas. His time in training informed his later counseling of Mennonite Conscientious Objectors during the Viet Nam War. While living in Washington D.C., he had been briefly engaged, but that engagement was short-lived.
He began college at Grace College in Winona Lake, Indiana. He transferred to Bluffton College, Ohio, following his second fiancee there. That relationship ended, and he later started dating, and eventually married Helen Neufeld, whom he had met at Bluffton. He decided he was to be a Mennonite pastor, so he attended Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Chicago. While in the military, he had come to the conclusion that he couldn't bring himself to take a life because "Christ loved and died for all people." A significant highlight of that time spent in Seminary was a summer choir trip to northern U.S and Canada with Helen, whom he had just married on June 24, 1956 (it was rumored that the choir director hastened the wedding date so they could have an alto in the choir!). He loved to tell stories of that trip, traveling in a stretch limo with several other choir members, and took pictures with a camera given to him as a wedding gift.
As a Mennonite (an historic Protestant "Peace Church" denomination) pastor, he served at First Mennonite Church in Chicago, Flanagan Mennonite (IL) Church, First Mennonite Church of Christian in Moundridge, KS, Bethany Mennonite Church, Quakertown, PA, Cordell Mennonite Church, Bessie OK, Deer Creek Mennonite Church, Deer Creek, OK ,Turpin Mennonite, Turpin OK, two congregations in Pekin and East Peoria, IL. Upon his retirement, Bob and Helen served a year as curators and interpreters at Menno-Hof in Shipshewana, Indiana, and made their home in Topeka, IN where they regularly attended and served at the Topeka Mennonite Church. From 2001-2005 Bob and Helen traveled to Dade City, Florida, where he served as Chaplain at Traveler's Rest Campground and resort from Thanksgiving to Easter. Bob and Helen spent much of their spare time in retirement presenting a program of song and story "Faith of Our Mothers and Fathers".
No long life is without struggles, and when Bob was 59, he suffered a mental and emotional breakdown and was hospitalized for six weeks. Since that time, he was not ashamed to say that he was receiving ongoing therapy and medication. He became an advocate for accepting and acknowledging the need for mental health intervention, and for reducing the stigma of mental illness.
In 2005, Helen developed liver disease and passed away in May of 2006, 24 days before what would have been their 50th anniversary. Bob lived in Topeka until 2015, when he moved to Assisted Living at Greencroft in Goshen Indiana. He moved to Healthcare late June 2021, and passed away after a short illness.
Bob's passions were history, genealogy, stamps, story-telling, and his trains. He was a great fan of Charles Dickens: "A Christmas Story", and set up a train village in that theme for many years under the Christmas tree. He loved the gift giving rituals of Christmas and regularly wrapped even the smallest present in comic paper. People would give him their Sunday "Funnies" for years. He loved watching classic horror flicks with old-time actors. He served with the Topeka Historical Society (Indiana) for many years and curated the museum, dressing as a train engineer and giving tours. He was also known for his beautiful bass singing voice, and sang in choirs and solos. His most recent choral activity was singing with the Evergreen Singers in Goshen. He had been looking forward to start singing with them again.
Bob and Helen had three children, 5 grandchildren, and numerous great- and 2 great-great grandchildren. He was a tender, loving father and grandpa who loved to laugh and spend time with family, especially his extended Coon family. He rarely missed a Coon reunion, and was able to attend his last Coon reunion a little over two weeks before he passed away.
_____________
Oh Wizened Eyes, Resplendent (poem by grandson Kenan Schaefkofer in his memory)
"O wizened eyes resplendent, we seek the things you saw,
that urged you to such greatness, and humbled you in awe.
We strive now, as you once strove, toward the beacon, toward the Light.
With forebears inviting, it beckons yet more bright.
Though teary eyes may hinder, and sorrow shroud our way,
what seems to us like evening may just be break of day.
O eager lips of blessing, speak grace for us today,
forgive us and our mourning, our stubborn, petty ways.
We speak now, as you once spoke, prayers and stories, holy jest,
to bolster worn hearts and inspire us to our best.
You uttered bless'd assurance, through strife, your words did calm,
there is afar in Gilead, vouchsafed for us a Balm.
O tremb'ling hands of service, wrap arms around us all.
Take respite from your labors, and joy in heaven's call.
We fight now, as you once fought, not with sword, but plowshare hewn.
Through clangorous war drums you hummed a diff'rent tune:
Ev'ry note is one of justice, each tear can shatter chains,
ev'ry sigh becomes a rush of wind, set free across the plains"
Died on the same date as his mother, 56 years later.
Robert grew up in the Dayton area, and lived and moved to several different locations after his father Hugh Coon died when Robert was six years old. His mother remarried John Bowersock a few years later,and he had a stable and loving home for the rest of the time he lived at home. In school, he loved to read, and began singing in choirs by the time he was in 7th grade.
He first attended church at the age of nine, and made a decision for Christ and was baptized at a Grace Brethren church at the age of 13. The rest of his family didn't attend church but supported his doing so. While there at the church, he developed a lifelong friendship with Ray Rudolph, who passed away in March of 2021.
After high school graduation, though he wanted to attend college, he lacked money, so he joined the Marines and went on Reserve for a year. He liked the look of the Marine uniform. While living in Washington D.C., he heard a call to go into the Christian ministry. One of his jobs was to stand at attention where President Truman's yacht was moored. Three weeks after being discharged, but remaining in the reserves, he had signed up for architect school. The Korean war interrupted that when he was called back into active duty. After training for a time at Camp LeJeune, he was honorably discharged for "medical reasons" (he was unsure why), several days before his platoon was sent overseas. His time in training informed his later counseling of Mennonite Conscientious Objectors during the Viet Nam War. While living in Washington D.C., he had been briefly engaged, but that engagement was short-lived.
He began college at Grace College in Winona Lake, Indiana. He transferred to Bluffton College, Ohio, following his second fiancee there. That relationship ended, and he later started dating, and eventually married Helen Neufeld, whom he had met at Bluffton. He decided he was to be a Mennonite pastor, so he attended Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Chicago. While in the military, he had come to the conclusion that he couldn't bring himself to take a life because "Christ loved and died for all people." A significant highlight of that time spent in Seminary was a summer choir trip to northern U.S and Canada with Helen, whom he had just married on June 24, 1956 (it was rumored that the choir director hastened the wedding date so they could have an alto in the choir!). He loved to tell stories of that trip, traveling in a stretch limo with several other choir members, and took pictures with a camera given to him as a wedding gift.
As a Mennonite (an historic Protestant "Peace Church" denomination) pastor, he served at First Mennonite Church in Chicago, Flanagan Mennonite (IL) Church, First Mennonite Church of Christian in Moundridge, KS, Bethany Mennonite Church, Quakertown, PA, Cordell Mennonite Church, Bessie OK, Deer Creek Mennonite Church, Deer Creek, OK ,Turpin Mennonite, Turpin OK, two congregations in Pekin and East Peoria, IL. Upon his retirement, Bob and Helen served a year as curators and interpreters at Menno-Hof in Shipshewana, Indiana, and made their home in Topeka, IN where they regularly attended and served at the Topeka Mennonite Church. From 2001-2005 Bob and Helen traveled to Dade City, Florida, where he served as Chaplain at Traveler's Rest Campground and resort from Thanksgiving to Easter. Bob and Helen spent much of their spare time in retirement presenting a program of song and story "Faith of Our Mothers and Fathers".
No long life is without struggles, and when Bob was 59, he suffered a mental and emotional breakdown and was hospitalized for six weeks. Since that time, he was not ashamed to say that he was receiving ongoing therapy and medication. He became an advocate for accepting and acknowledging the need for mental health intervention, and for reducing the stigma of mental illness.
In 2005, Helen developed liver disease and passed away in May of 2006, 24 days before what would have been their 50th anniversary. Bob lived in Topeka until 2015, when he moved to Assisted Living at Greencroft in Goshen Indiana. He moved to Healthcare late June 2021, and passed away after a short illness.
Bob's passions were history, genealogy, stamps, story-telling, and his trains. He was a great fan of Charles Dickens: "A Christmas Story", and set up a train village in that theme for many years under the Christmas tree. He loved the gift giving rituals of Christmas and regularly wrapped even the smallest present in comic paper. People would give him their Sunday "Funnies" for years. He loved watching classic horror flicks with old-time actors. He served with the Topeka Historical Society (Indiana) for many years and curated the museum, dressing as a train engineer and giving tours. He was also known for his beautiful bass singing voice, and sang in choirs and solos. His most recent choral activity was singing with the Evergreen Singers in Goshen. He had been looking forward to start singing with them again.
Bob and Helen had three children, 5 grandchildren, and numerous great- and 2 great-great grandchildren. He was a tender, loving father and grandpa who loved to laugh and spend time with family, especially his extended Coon family. He rarely missed a Coon reunion, and was able to attend his last Coon reunion a little over two weeks before he passed away.
_____________
Oh Wizened Eyes, Resplendent (poem by grandson Kenan Schaefkofer in his memory)
"O wizened eyes resplendent, we seek the things you saw,
that urged you to such greatness, and humbled you in awe.
We strive now, as you once strove, toward the beacon, toward the Light.
With forebears inviting, it beckons yet more bright.
Though teary eyes may hinder, and sorrow shroud our way,
what seems to us like evening may just be break of day.
O eager lips of blessing, speak grace for us today,
forgive us and our mourning, our stubborn, petty ways.
We speak now, as you once spoke, prayers and stories, holy jest,
to bolster worn hearts and inspire us to our best.
You uttered bless'd assurance, through strife, your words did calm,
there is afar in Gilead, vouchsafed for us a Balm.
O tremb'ling hands of service, wrap arms around us all.
Take respite from your labors, and joy in heaven's call.
We fight now, as you once fought, not with sword, but plowshare hewn.
Through clangorous war drums you hummed a diff'rent tune:
Ev'ry note is one of justice, each tear can shatter chains,
ev'ry sigh becomes a rush of wind, set free across the plains"
Died on the same date as his mother, 56 years later.
Gravesite Details
Inurnment. Shares marker with Helen Coon. Military plaque indicates service in Marines from 1949-1950 in Reserves and training, not combat.
