Frederick Andrew Coleman

Coleman, Frederick Andrew "Fred" Age 86 of Joliet, passed away Sunday, December 16, 2012. Fred was born in San Antonio Texas on July 7, 1926 and was the son of Margerite (Maggie) Brieden and Frederick Anthony. In 1943 he joined the Navy where he served in the amphibious force as a landing barge crew member in World War II and was involved in the 1944 Battle of Angaur in the Pacific campaign in the Palau Islands. Later he was instrumental in the delivery of guns and ammunition to the troops in Okinawa and Iwo Jima. Upon his Honorable Discharge on March 6, 1946 he returned to Texas to complete high school and in 1949 came to Chicago to study HVAC (refrigeration and heating) where he met his wife Dorothy Moore. In 1950 he was called back into the Navy to serve in the Korean Conflict and while stationed in San Diego, CA, Dorothy traveled to California to marry him. Upon his military discharge, they moved to Chicago where they lived until 1963 at which time they decided to move to a home in Joliet to raise their four children. Over the years, Fred has worked as an HVAC serviceman for Johansen & Anderson, Commercial Cooling and DeNovy Services. He bowled in many leagues at Town and Country Lanes and loved to watch the White Sox play. Because he enjoyed being a Boy Scout at the age of 12, he returned to scouting in 1964 as a leader in Troop 239 of Joliet and enjoyed many camping trips with his sons and good friend, Jim Perkins. He was an active and beloved member of St. Edward and Christ Episcopal Church on Midland Avenue. Fred was always ready with a joke and loved having coffee with friends. He will be missed by many. Survived by his wife Dorothy (Moore) Coleman and four children, Frederick II (Janice) of Joliet, Ronald (Sandy) of Jacksonville, FL, Eric (Debbie) of Overland Park, KS and Dodie (Pete) Offerman of Little Rock, AR. Ten grandchildren, Andrew, Michelle (Danney), Rebecca (Mike) Lowo, Fred III "Trey" (Trinity), Michael, Sarah (Terry) Shintaku, Timothy, Meagan (Daniel) Wilson, Brittney (fianc Jonathan Stewart) and Jessica Offerman. Six great-grandchildren, Elaine, Aiden, Toby, Evelyn, Olivia and Jordan. He is also survived by his brother Albert of Bellflower, California as well as many nieces and nephews. Fred was preceded by his parents Margerite (Brieden) and Frederick Anthony, granddaughter Diana Coleman and eight siblings, James, Stanford, Leo, Mildred, Charles, Frances, and twin sisters at birth. Funeral service for Frederick A. Coleman will be held Wednesday, December 19 at 10:30 am at the Blackburn-Giegerich-Sonntag Funeral Home. Interment Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Elwood, IL where full Military Honors will be accorded. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Joliet Area Community Hospice or St. Edward and Christ Episcopal Church would be appreciated. Visitation Wednesday, December 19 at 9:00 am until time of service.