Wilbert “Bill” Emery Coon, 84, of Leawood, KS, passed away peacefully on Feb. 27, 2012, at home. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Mar. 3, at Cure of Ars, 9401 Mission Rd., Leawood. Rosary at 6 p.m. and visitation until 8 on Friday, Mar. 2, at McGilley State Line Chapel.
Bill was born Nov. 28, 1927, on a farm near St. Marys KS the firstborn son of John and Marie (Brunin) Coon. Growing up, he learned the meaning of hard work. Days began with early farm chores, serving Mass as an altar boy then on to school. After school there were more chores, and he added jobs including cutting firewood, delivering newspapers, “soda jerking” at the local drugstore, harvesting potatoes and working on the railroad. He excelled in sports, especially on the high school basketball and baseball teams. He attended Creighton University before being drafted into the Army as a medical corpsman in WWII. After the war he returned to Creighton and earned a degree in journalism. Upon graduation, Bill went to Greenley, CO, to work at a radio station. As a member of the Naval Reserve he was called back to service in the Korean War, this time as a reporter and photographer for Stars and Stripes. When the war ended, Bill went to work as a reporter for the Kansas City Star. In 1952, he joined the The Packer as an ad salesman, retiring 43 years later as Vice President and Publishing Director for Vance Publishing, produce division. He was well-known and received many honors for his passion and commitment to the industry. Bill volunteered after retirement at Harvesters, a food bank, utilizing his contacts in the produce industry to significantly boost contributions of fresh fruit and vegetables. Harvesters named him The Outstanding Volunteer of 1997. He also volunteered with the University of Kansas as a trustee for the journalism school.
Bill was a loving husband, father and grandfather as well as an avid tennis player who will be remembered for his love of life, generous heart, and strength of character.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Francis, Lawrence, Jere, and Joseph.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 55 years, Mary Therese O’Neill: sons Daniel (Muriel), Joseph and William Coon, daughter Tracy (John) Nohe; brother John (Janet) Coon; grandchildren Trevor (Meg), Spencer and Philip Nohe and Hugo Coon. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Harvesters, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Parkinson’s Foundation.
Condolences may be left online at www.mcgilleystatelinechapel.com.
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