Coenen, Clarence Joseph (1932 - 2024)

COENEN, KRAYENHAGEN, RAU, MICHALSKI, BERAN

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 11/12/2024 at 18:26:18

Name of deceased: Clarence Joseph Coenen

Aged: 92 yrs, 7 mo, 16 days

Residence: Windsor, CO (formerly of Westphalia, Shelby County, IA)

Born: Feb. 2, 1932; rural Westphalia, Shelby County, IA

Died: Sep. 18, 2024; Windsor, Larimer and Weld counties, CO

Funeral services: Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024; St. Boniface Catholic Church, Westphalia, IA; burial in St. Boniface Cemetery

Survived by: Children, Kelvin Coenen (spouse, Christina) of Modesto, CA, Lean Krayenhagen (spouse, Scott) of Severance, CO, Curtis Coenen (spouse, Beverly) of Goodyear, AZ and Greg Coenen (spouse, Donna) of Omaha, NE; brother, Virgil Coenen of Harlan, IA; sister, Janice Rau of Clive, IA; sister-in -law, Betty Coenen; 9 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; other family members and friends

Predeceased by: Parents, Godfrey "Shorty" and Agnes (nee Michalski) Coenen;

Education: Attended St. Boniface Catholic grade school, Westphalia, IA, and, after completing the 8th grade, left school to help on the family farm.

Religious affiliation: Baptized at St. Boniface Catholic Church, Westphalia, IA, where he remained a life-long member.

Military service: no information provided

Marriage: Rose Marie "Rosie" Beran; Feb. 9, 1959; St. Boniface Catholic Church, Westphalia, IA

Employment: Had left school after completing grade 8 to assist his father and to focus on running the family farm, his true passion. After his marriage, in 1968, the Coenen family briefly relocated to California, where Clarence managed a Magnavox TV store. They later moved to Brighton, CO, where Clarence and Rosie managed a Coast-to-Coast hardware store. After Clarence’s father passed away in 1971 in Iowa, Clarence and Rosie returned there, where their hearts truly resided. Clarence longed to return to farming, and they eventually moved back to the home where Clarence was born, and during these farming years, he also drove a school bus for the Harlan (IA) Community School District. Clarence and Rosie farmed there until health issues forced him to retire from farming in 1983. After, Clarence worked for Western Iowa Medical and helped open and manage the store in Harlan, IA. Both he and Rosie then retired in 1998. They resided at their farm for 36 years, until Rosie's passing in 2008. Following Rosie's death, Clarence spent a few more years on the farm before moving to Harlan, IA. In December 2017, he moved to Windsor, CO, to be closer to his daughter, Leann.

Hobbies/Interests: Clarence and Rosie enjoyed traveling with their travel trailer, visiting family in California and Florida; their children and grandchildren were their pride and joy. Had a deep love for music, singing for funerals and weddings, and participating in the Westphalia choir, the Goldenaires, community chorus, and plays.

Sources: knodfm.com; pauleyjones.com