Donna Coffman Cox

Donna J Coffman Cox, of West Des Moines, passed away peacefully on March 12, 2017, at the Mercy Hospice Center in Des Moines, Iowa.  She was 90 years young.

Donna was born on February 28, 1928 to Lloyd and Thelma Shore in Chariton, Iowa.  She attended rural school and Chariton High.  After graduation Donna ventured out to Greeley State Teacher’s College, in Greeley, Colorado to pursue her dream of becoming a teacher.  After a year she came back to Southern Iowa and begin teaching in a one room rural school house.  She finished her college education in 1954 and 1956 at Drake University.  She went on to pursue her Master’s Degree and received it in 1972 from Northeast Missouri State University, in Guidance Counseling. Donna loved teaching more than anything and after finishing from the public-school systems, she went on to work at AIB in Des Moines, in the counseling department and finally retired from her love of education and students in 1996.  She was also a finalist for Teacher of the Year for the State of Iowa.

Donna was an active member of many organizations and volunteered where ever she was needed.  She belonged to Delta Kappa Gamma, Retired Teachers Association, Chapter ie P.E.O., The Red Hats, and other organizations.  One of her great loves was volunteering at the Iowa State Fair for many years.  She always worked in the food division with her friends the “State Fair Girls”.  In 1991 Donna received the State of Iowa volunteer award for her work over time from then Gov. Terry Branstad.

She was an active member of the Plymouth Congregation Church in Des Moines, and especially enjoyed her Nine to Dine Group each month.

Donna’s love for travel was never ending.  She and her sister always had a bagged packed to go cruising.  They so enjoyed spending this time together and had many stories to share upon their return from each adventure.  So many friends were made from around the world on these trips of pure joy.

Donna married Bernard Coffman, in 1948 and to this union two sons were born, Larry and Gary.  They lived on a farm north of Chariton and Donna started teaching as Bernard was farming.  She was active with the many events with the boys, and especially liked helping with 4-H and loved going to the livestock shows with the family over the years.

After her husband died, she married Maurice Cox in 1996 and the two of them enjoyed traveling and their families.  They especially enjoyed going to Maurice’s veterans annual group somewhere fun,in the US to talk with all the veterans from the war and the role they played in it.  Maurice was a Shriner and that brought them many a good time and also again, volunteering to help others.

Donna was preceded in death by both husbands, her good friend Herb Dennis,  her parents, and her son Larry Coffman, and daughter-in-law Linda Coffman.  She leaves to morn her loss, her son Gary Coffman, Rancho Mirage, Ca. Her 4 grandchildren, Garth Coffman, Judd (Pam) Coffman, Shae (Justin) Olsen, and Maddie (Andrew) Piittmann. Also, her 5 great-grandchildren, Greer Coffman, Zoe Coffman, Brady Coffman, Molly Coffman and Reid Olsen. Her sister Carol Bernabe, Las Vegas, Nv., and her nephew Doug (Vicki) Johnson.  Her stepson Don (Faye) Cox and his children and grandchildren.  Numerous cousins, and many, many friends.

The family would like to thank all the special staffs at Homestead of Chariton, Bickford West Senior Living in West Des Moines, and Mercy Hospice for their kind and caring support for Donna.

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