HOME ON FURLOUGH
Cpl. Virgil J. H. Coleman, son of Mr. and Mrs. N. H. Coleman of this city, is home on a 30-day furlough from army duty in Italy, after nearly two years of overseas service.
The Webster City serviceman has three brothers and three brothers-in-law in service. They include: George W. Coleman, QM 1/c, who is now at Norfolk, Va., after a year’s duty in the Pacific; Norval Coleman, MoMM1/c, serving aboard a ship in the Pacific; Pvt. Myrrl Coleman, located at Ft. Snelling, Minn., now after reporting for induction a week ago; Pfc. George Eberhart, reportedly on his way home after being released from a nazi prison camp in which he was held prisoner for nine months; and Donald Yancy, serving with the merchant marine.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, June 9, 1945
NOTES: Coleman family, Webster City, IA
Norval and Edna Sheetz Coleman had 7 family members serving in World War II.
Norval Clay ‘Chub’ Coleman and George William Coleman both served with the U.S. Navy in the Pacific.
Virgil Joseph Howard ‘Joe’ Coleman served in the Air Force and was a airplane mechanic based primarily in Italy.
Myrrl Robert Coleman served with the 532nd Engineers boat and shore in Panama, the Pacific Theatre and in Korea.
Daughter Mary Jane Coleman was married to (1) George Eberhart (2) Elferd Trampel. George and Elferd were both World War II Army veterans.
Daughter Margie Coleman married Albert Wayne Lamfers, U.S. Navy veteran who served in the Pacific aboard the USS Drum (SS-228).
Sources: Daily Freeman Journal and ancestry.com
His Obituary:
Virgil (Joe) Coleman, 94, of Webster City died peacefully November 12, 2014 at the Southfield Wellness Community. Funeral services will be held Monday, November 17, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at the Foster Funeral and Cremation Center. Burial will be in the Cass Township Cemetery. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service on Monday. Military graveside rites will be conducted by American Legion Post # 191.
Virgil Joseph Howard Coleman, the son of Norval and Edna Scheetz Coleman was born October 2, 1920 at Webster City. Growing up on the family farm with his eight siblings, he attended Dows Community School. He enlisted in the United States Air Force on January 25, 1943 serving his country honorably as an airplane mechanic based primarily in Italy. Following his discharge, he returned to Webster City when he married Dorothy Norem, also of Webster City, on September 17, 1947 and together they raised two sons, Larry and Bruce Coleman. Joe and Dorothy briefly relocated to Waukesha, WI. They returned to Webster City where they would remain together until Dorothy's untimely passing on January 28, 1968 from heart failure. On June 23, 1972, he married Phyllis Krieger at Anoka, MN. They resided in Webster City.
Joe is survived by his wife, Phyllis; son, Bruce (Helen) Coleman, daughter-in-law, Joan Coleman, all of Webster City; three grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; step-children, Marcia and Howard Moon, Monte and Linda Krieger, all of Kamrar and Marla Krieger of Webster City; sisters, Margie Lamfers of Hesperia, CA; Mary Jane Trampel of Webster City and Avon Hicks of Hesperia, CA.
In addition to his first wife, he is preceded in death by his parents; son, Larry Coleman; brothers, George, Norval, Myrill and Richard Coleman; sister, Betty Ann Coleman.
He was a former Moose Family Center member and the V.F.W.
Source: Foster Funeral Home, Webster City, IA
