Herbert Coates

COATES, Herbert "Herb"
Of Portage, MI Herb passed away Friday, October 9, 2009 at his residence. He was born August 22, 1934, in Constantine, Michigan, the son of the late William G. and Rebecca J. Weaver Coates and was a longtime Kalamazoo area resident. On October 3, 1953, he was united in marriage to the former Sherriel Garber. He had served in the Michigan National Guard, was an officer with the Kalamazoo Police Department, the Portage Police Department and then served as the Supervisor of Transportation with the Portage Public Schools until his retirement. Herb was an excellent handyman who enjoyed helping others with many of their work projects. He enjoyed bowling, golf, hunting, and was an avid WWII and John Wayne movie fan. Herb was a member of the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, the Elks Lodge and the Moose Lodge in Florida. For many years he and his wife wintered in Venice, Florida. Surviving are his wife, Sherry Coates; three sons, Allan Coates of Grand Rapids, MI, Mark Theresa Coates of Delton and Brent Coates of Portage; four grandchildren, Sydney, Lauren, Mia and Kenneth; a brother, John Margaret Coates of Schoolcraft. The family will receive friend on Saturday October 17 from 10-11am at Langeland Family Funeral Home, Portage Chapel, 411 E. Centre Ave. where a service to celebrate Herb's life will be held beginning 11:00am Saturday. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Herb's memory may be directed to the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission. For online guestbook, obituary, memories and condolences for the family please visit www.langelands.com