George Coon

George Burdette Coon
George B. Coon, 79, Hibbing died Tuesday, June 24, 2014, of cancer in his home with family by his side.  He was born on June 27, 1934, to George Earl and Elizabeth Jeanette (Clifton) Coon in Grinnell, IA.  The family moved to Minnesota in approximately 1946.  Burdette enlisted in the United States Navy on January 4, 1952, at the age of 17 years and served in the Korean War Suez Crisis in 1956.  He discharged on September 28, 1959, with the rank Signalman First Class (SM1).  He married Josephine Rivera on February 27, 1960, in Brooklyn, NY, and they moved to Hibbing.  Burdette performed residential and commercial painting services.  He was employed with Keith Rule Painting, and with his father’s business, Range Painting and Decorating, and later established Coon Brothers Painting with his brother Dennis.  He also worked for Butler Bros. Mining Operation.  Burdette was an active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars with VFW Post 8510 of Hibbing and participated in many civic and military activities including parades and color guards.  He enjoyed traveling to visit his daughters and grandchildren, riding motorcycles, restoring cars, leather tooling, listening to music, and enhancing his knowledge of history.
He is survived by his three daughters: Lori M. (Jose`) Torres, Antioch, CA, Stacy D. Rumler, Dearborn, MI, and Lisa T. (Juan) Rodela, Adrian, MI; five siblings: Charles (Sharon) Coon, Hammond, IN, Connie (Ted) Bielecki, Nashwauk, MN, Dennis (Donna) Coon, Hibbing, Erwin (Gail) Coon, Eveleth, MN, and Marianne (Doug) Just-Minzghor, Hibbing; eight grandchildren: Lina Heather, Natasha Torres, Arturo Coon, Anthony Coon-Rodela, Phoenix Hernandez, Augustine Coon-Rodela, Xavier Coon, and Sophie Rumler-Wheeler; two great-grandchildren, Cruz Orduna, and Viviana Coon;  and many nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Elizabeth; and his former wife, Josephine Coon.
A military funeral honors ceremony for Burdette will be conducted at 2:00pm, Friday, June 27, 2014 at the Dougherty Funeral Home of Hibbing.  The Rev. Sally Maxwell will officiate.  The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service and a luncheon reception will be held immediately following.   Per Burdette’s request, cremation will be performed.  You may send condolences to the family at www.doughertyofhibbing.com.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to the Fisher House Foundation at donations@fisherhouse.org please earmark any donations in honor of George Burdette Coon.
Arrangements are with the Dougherty Funeral Home of Hibbing.

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