Kenneth S. Coe, 78, slipped away to eternity Dec. 29, 2016, with family and friends at his side.
Ken was preceded in death by his parents, Dee and Clare Coe, and his stepmother, Marjorie Coe.
He is survived by his wife, DeEtta Coe; brother, John H. (Claudia) Coe of Celina, OH; and sister, Penny (Phil) Meyers of Dayton, Nevada. He is also survived by three nephews, one niece, and a niece, Paula Marie Carr, he adopted as his rights of being a “second” dad; sister-in-law, Ruth Ann (Phil) Carr of Phoenix, AZ; and other special family, Darnell Bailey of Granger, IN, and Dianna and Ron Reynolds of LaPorte.
Ken Coe attended Ball State University before transferring to Indiana University, where he majored in telecommunications. Ken started his broadcasting career 58 years ago in LaPorte. He served four years in the U.S. Navy on the U.S. Hank DD702. He moved to South Haven, MI, in 1967 to run the newly purchased radio station WJOR. On June 13, 1968, he married DeEtta, his wife of 48 years, in LaPorte at First United Methodist Church.
He was a member of South Haven Jaycees and the South Haven Chamber of Commerce and served six years on the City of South Haven Planning Commission. He was a board member and later Vice Commander of the South Haven Yacht Club; president of the South Haven National Blueberry Festival in 1970, and a member of the South Haven Rotary Club.
In 1977, Ken took over the operation of the radio stations WLOI AM and FM in LaPorte and changed to country music with the new call letters being 96.7 WCOE. Following the death of his father, Dee O. Coe, in 1982, Ken became President of the Lake County Broadcasting Company and owner of the radio stations WWCA in Gary and WJOR in South Haven, MI. Years later, he sold both radio stations.
Ken was then President and General Manager of LaPorte County Broadcasting Co. and owner of WLOI 1540-AM and WCOE 96.7-FM, The Eagle. During his 43 years of broadcasting, Ken has been a member of LaPorte Jaycees and LaPorte Chamber of Commerce; a board member of the Chamber of Commerce, United Way and Salvation Army, and the Christmas Chairman for the Salvation Army.
He was a member and elder of the Presbyterian Church of LaPorte and had been a Vice President of the LaPorte Presbyterian Church Foundation. He had served on the Board of Directors of the Indiana Broadcasters Association for 18 years. He had also served the IBA as its State President from 1981-82; he was President of the Indiana Broadcast Pioneers for two years from 1983-84; he co-founded and was the first president of the Indiana Broadcast Pioneers Foundation Inc.; and he helped to form the Indiana Broadcast Pioneers Museum and Hall of Fame, which are currently housed in the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis.
Nationally, Ken served two 2-year terms on the National Association of Broadcasters Board of Directors representing the state of Indiana. He served on various committees of the IBA, NAB and RAB (Radio Advertising Bureau). He spoke at many state and national conventions and served on committees of those associations. Ken also had been a member of the International Idea Bank, a worldwide “think tank” with a membership of 100 other radio stations. In 2000, Ken was honored to be inducted in the Indiana Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame. This is the highest honor that can be given to a radio or television broadcaster in Indiana. On Jan. 16, 2001, he was presented with an American flag that was flown over the Capitol on Jan. 4 in honor of his being inducted into the Hall of Fame by Congressman Tim Roemer.
Ken was the host of the radio show “Sound Off” for 30 years on WCOE. Many good things came out of that program and most who grew up in LaPorte at that time can still hear the “Sound Off” jingle in their heads today. His voice was unmistakable. He always made sure the stations had solid local news and especially sports coverage, with WCOE known as the “Indiana Sports Leader.” Ken will be remembered for his love of family, friends, radio, and being a heart in the community in which he took so much pride.
The family will receive friends at Haverstock Funeral Home and Cremation Services, LaPorte, on Monday, Jan. 2, from 3 to 8 p.m., and at LaPorte Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, Jan. 3, from 10 to 11 a.m. A life celebration will be held at the church Tuesday at 11 a.m. with Rev. Dr. Sally Wicks and Rev. Dr. William Wimberly officiating. Interment will follow at Rolling Prairie Cemetery, Rolling Prairie, IN.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Presbyterian Church, 307 Kingsbury Ave., LaPorte, IN 46350.
Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP as well as at www.haverstockfuneralhome.com.