Mr. Eldon Lee Coons, 87, of LaPorte, died suddenly Saturday, June 20, 2015, at 4:16 p.m. at Franciscan St. Anthony Health, Michigan City, IN.
He was born Aug. 4, 1927, in Terre Haute, IN, to Christopher Columbus Coons and Ethel (Birkholder) Coons.
Mr. Coons proudly served his country in The United States Navy during World War II. He worked for various companies in Michigan City, including Blocksom and Company, and retired from Criterion Catalyst (American Cyanamid) in 1989. He also owned Karwick Quick Wash, Coons Television Repair Store and Karwick 34 Circus Flavors. Throughout his life, he enjoyed taking classes at Purdue University North Central. Eldon had always been heavily involved in the community. He was a member for more than 50 years, and past governor, of Michigan City Moose Family Center 980. He was a proud member of the Ritual Team and held several offices, and was a member of American Legion Post 37. He was an avid boater all of his life and was an instructor for boat safety courses through the United States Power Squadron. He thoroughly enjoyed playing golf at local golf courses and played in the Moose Golf League. He was a member of the LaPorte YMCA Silver Sneakers Club for the last five years. Mr. Coons was a man of many talents who could accomplish anything he put his mind to. As the patriarch, he will be forever missed by his family and all who knew him.
He married the love of his life, Betty (Biddle) Coons, on Jan. 3, 1948, in Michigan City. She survives in LaPorte.
Also surviving are one son, Gerald (Karen) Coons of Orangeburg, SC; two daughters, Gale Coons-Sheeler of Michigan City and Cheryl (Garry) Sacks of Estero, FL; 12 grandchildren, Adam (Lori) Sheeler of Ladson, SC, Christopher (Shanna) Coons of Summerville, SC, Geoffrey (Jennifer) Coons of Baltimore, MD, Abby (Mark) Papendieck of Austin, TX, Megan (CJ) Johnson of Greer, SC, Isaac (Kari) Sacks of Michigan City, Crystal Coons (Josh) of Cope, SC, Steven Sacks of Michigan City, Brandi Coons of Orangeburg, SC, Andrew Sacks of Michigan City, Charlotte Kirby of Ashland City, TN, and Christina Sheeler of Jeffersonville, IN; 17 great-grandchildren; one sister, Evelyn (Louis) Peterson of Lynwood, IL; and a plethora of nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister and three brothers.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, June 25, at Queen of All Saints Catholic Church, Michigan City, with Rev. Kevin Huber officiating. Visitation will be at Ott/Haverstock Funeral Chapel, Michigan City, on Wednesday, June 24, from 3 to 5 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m., and on Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. A Moose memorial service will be conducted at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday by Moose Family Center 980 at the funeral chapel. A prayer service will be conducted at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral chapel. Burial will follow the Mass at Greenwood Cemetery, Michigan City.
Contributions may be made to Queen of all Saints Catholic Church, 606 S. Woodland Ave., Michigan City, IN 46360.
Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP, as well as at www.otthaverstock.com.