Highly decorated veteran of WWII and Korean War, small business owner.
The father of Mike Coffman, Colorado state treasurer, he grew up very poor in the Great Depression, had an eighth-grade education and rose through the enlisted ranks in the military. Coffman had a job pumping gas when he decided to join the Navy in 1943. He changed his birth certificate to reflect that he was of legal age--he was 15 at the time; nine months later, the Navy found out and shipped him home. he waited a month and joined the Army, still underage at 16, he was sent to Europe in the infantry, where he fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Coffman completed high school in the Army and later received certification in heating, ventilation and air conditioning.
After World War II, Sergeant Coffman was transferred to Shanghai, China, where he met his future wife, Dorothy Manasseh. They were married just before Shanghai fell to the communists, on Sept. 18, 1948. Two years later, Mr. Coffman went back to war, this time in Korea. In two wars, he received four Bronze Stars and a Silver Star for bravery. He also was wounded and received the Purple Heart.
Coffman retired from the military in 1964 and then went into business for himself. He owned several small businesses, including HVAC heating and ventilation and a sporting goods store; later he also was an RC Cola distributor. retiring from his civilian careers in 1998.
In addition to wife Dorothy and son Mike, other survivors include two daughters, Sharon DePrato, of Falls Church, Va., and Susan Hyatt, of Centennial; two other sons, Tim, of Aurora, and Dan, of Santa Ana, Calif.; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Cause of death: emphysema.
The father of Mike Coffman, Colorado state treasurer, he grew up very poor in the Great Depression, had an eighth-grade education and rose through the enlisted ranks in the military. Coffman had a job pumping gas when he decided to join the Navy in 1943. He changed his birth certificate to reflect that he was of legal age--he was 15 at the time; nine months later, the Navy found out and shipped him home. he waited a month and joined the Army, still underage at 16, he was sent to Europe in the infantry, where he fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Coffman completed high school in the Army and later received certification in heating, ventilation and air conditioning.
After World War II, Sergeant Coffman was transferred to Shanghai, China, where he met his future wife, Dorothy Manasseh. They were married just before Shanghai fell to the communists, on Sept. 18, 1948. Two years later, Mr. Coffman went back to war, this time in Korea. In two wars, he received four Bronze Stars and a Silver Star for bravery. He also was wounded and received the Purple Heart.
Coffman retired from the military in 1964 and then went into business for himself. He owned several small businesses, including HVAC heating and ventilation and a sporting goods store; later he also was an RC Cola distributor. retiring from his civilian careers in 1998.
In addition to wife Dorothy and son Mike, other survivors include two daughters, Sharon DePrato, of Falls Church, Va., and Susan Hyatt, of Centennial; two other sons, Tim, of Aurora, and Dan, of Santa Ana, Calif.; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Cause of death: emphysema.
Highly decorated veteran of WWII and Korean War, small business owner.
The father of Mike Coffman, Colorado state treasurer, he grew up very poor in the Great Depression, had an eighth-grade education and rose through the enlisted ranks in the military. Coffman had a job pumping gas when he decided to join the Navy in 1943. He changed his birth certificate to reflect that he was of legal age--he was 15 at the time; nine months later, the Navy found out and shipped him home. he waited a month and joined the Army, still underage at 16, he was sent to Europe in the infantry, where he fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Coffman completed high school in the Army and later received certification in heating, ventilation and air conditioning.
After World War II, Sergeant Coffman was transferred to Shanghai, China, where he met his future wife, Dorothy Manasseh. They were married just before Shanghai fell to the communists, on Sept. 18, 1948. Two years later, Mr. Coffman went back to war, this time in Korea. In two wars, he received four Bronze Stars and a Silver Star for bravery. He also was wounded and received the Purple Heart.
Coffman retired from the military in 1964 and then went into business for himself. He owned several small businesses, including HVAC heating and ventilation and a sporting goods store; later he also was an RC Cola distributor. retiring from his civilian careers in 1998.
In addition to wife Dorothy and son Mike, other survivors include two daughters, Sharon DePrato, of Falls Church, Va., and Susan Hyatt, of Centennial; two other sons, Tim, of Aurora, and Dan, of Santa Ana, Calif.; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Cause of death: emphysema.
The father of Mike Coffman, Colorado state treasurer, he grew up very poor in the Great Depression, had an eighth-grade education and rose through the enlisted ranks in the military. Coffman had a job pumping gas when he decided to join the Navy in 1943. He changed his birth certificate to reflect that he was of legal age--he was 15 at the time; nine months later, the Navy found out and shipped him home. he waited a month and joined the Army, still underage at 16, he was sent to Europe in the infantry, where he fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Coffman completed high school in the Army and later received certification in heating, ventilation and air conditioning.
After World War II, Sergeant Coffman was transferred to Shanghai, China, where he met his future wife, Dorothy Manasseh. They were married just before Shanghai fell to the communists, on Sept. 18, 1948. Two years later, Mr. Coffman went back to war, this time in Korea. In two wars, he received four Bronze Stars and a Silver Star for bravery. He also was wounded and received the Purple Heart.
Coffman retired from the military in 1964 and then went into business for himself. He owned several small businesses, including HVAC heating and ventilation and a sporting goods store; later he also was an RC Cola distributor. retiring from his civilian careers in 1998.
In addition to wife Dorothy and son Mike, other survivors include two daughters, Sharon DePrato, of Falls Church, Va., and Susan Hyatt, of Centennial; two other sons, Tim, of Aurora, and Dan, of Santa Ana, Calif.; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Cause of death: emphysema.
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