Lester Ferman Coe

Lester Ferman Coe was born December 21, 1920 in Huntley, Nebraska in Harlan County to Benjamin Ferman Coe and Mabel Olive (Bell) Coe. He attended rural school in Huntley. Later the family moved to a farm north of Orleans, NE, and later still, they moved to a farm south and east of Stamford, NE where he attended District #4 school. He graduated from Stamford High School in 1941. Lester then worked for a short while at Mead, NE in the World War II effort factory. Lester was baptized and confirmed in the Presbyterian Church in Stamford, NE. After moving to Bennington, NE, he joined St. John’s Lutheran Church. He entered the United States Army Air Force Division in 1942; was trained in the United States (California and New Jersey) and served approximately 3 years overseas in Assam, India where planes were refueled and repaired coming and going over the Hump, as the Himalayan Mountains were then called, and then into the China and Pacific war zone. India would have been the last Allied stronghold if Japan had been able to keep up their war efforts. The early strong military attacks by America and their allies took place in the European theatre, the Pacific area was held in abeyance and was under supplied and understaffed. After Germany and her allies sued for peace, increased attention went to the Pacific areas and ultimately the atomic bombs ended the war in the Pacific. Lester married Janiece Horwart in 1950, and to this union, three sons were born; Mickey Jay, Gregg Lester, and Lee Alan. Lester worked in the building trades most of his adult life, and after retirement loved working with wooden projects, planting, and tending his garden and playing cards. Lester passed away at the Methodist Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska on Saturday, July 5, 2008 at the age of 86 years, 6 months, and 16 days. He was preceded in death by his parents; Benjamin and Mabel Coe, an infant brother, Clifford, and brother Milo. He is survived by his wife Janiece of Bennington, sons and daughters-in-law; Mick and Sue Coe of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Gregg and Linda Coe of Fremont, Nebraska, and Lee and Julie Coe of Bennington, Nebraska, grandchildren; Jamie and husband, Aaron Stewart, Jeremy Coe, Jeff and wife, Angie Coe, Nick Coe, Nick Bachman, Angie Coe, Mark and wife, Susan Coe, Kramer Martin, and Autumn Coe, great grandchildren; Matthew and Joshue Coe, and Caleb Coe, brothers Cleo and wife, Phyllis Coe of Hastings, NE, and Darrell Coe of Beaver City, NE, and sister Velda Coe Simpson of Red Cloud, NE.

Lester Ferman Coe

December 20, 1921 - July 5, 2008