Chester Alvin Coleman, 83, of New London, died Friday, March 18, 2016 at Great River Medical Center, West Burlington.

Mr. Coleman was born September 12, 1932 in Stockport, the son of Bryan and Bertha Woodruff Coleman. He was a 1950 graduate of Bonaparte High School. On January 14, 1951, he married Ila Giberson in Mt. Pleasant. From 1952 - 1954 he served as a military policeman in the Army, stationed in Germany during the Korean War, and then served in the Army Reserves.

Mr. Coleman farmed until moving to California in 1959 and worked as a carpenter. After returning to Iowa in 1966, he worked as a carpenter, in maintenance, and helped invent a rock tumbler/polisher. In 1975 he was hired on the start-up crew of the Mt. Pleasant Goodyear Plant, working with the plant self-management operation. He won the Goodyear Spirit Award in 1977, the first Mt. Pleasant employee to earn the award. He was chairman of the Employee Concerns Committee for 12 years, earned numerous awards for Innovative Thinking, was Team Leader of the Maintenance Department, and managed the powerhouse for five years, retiring in March 1992. He is a lifetime member of the New London VFW Post #7641. Mr. Coleman was on the New London City Council for five years, New London Mayor ProTem for two years, a member of the Burge Cemetery Board since 1990, and served for three years on the Henry County Tourism Board.

Mr. Coleman organized the New London Historical Group in 1994, and he and his wife donated the Peterson Building on Main Street in New London for the specific purpose of a museum. That building is now Dover Museum. He worked numerous hours working on and for the museum which was granted National Register of Historic Places status. He served as President of the Dover Historical Society from 1994-2005, and still served on the board.

Mr. Coleman was a member of the Henry County Genealogical Society, serving as President from 1998-2003; was appointed to the Henry County Preservation Commission, and served as secretary for five years; was a member of the New London Chamber of Commerce since 1990; the New London Trees Forever Committee; the Chicauqua Rockhound Society since 1972, serving as President, Treasurer, and on the Board, In 1980, he and his wife helped organize Geodeland Earth Science Clubs, Inc., serving as President for four years, and with his wife, hosted club shows. He was also a partner in the development of Redbud Estates in New London.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, John and Dale; three sisters, Reba Judd, Iris Northrup, and Wanda McDowell; and one infant daughter, Ila.