Fred W Coffey

Fred William Coffey was born to Roy and Lydia (Houser) Coffey on December 28,1926 in his parent’s farmhouse in Burwell, NE. When he was about 2 years old, his parents moved back to the Columbus, NE area, where they had originated, then later they moved closer to Duncan, NE and this became the permanent family farm. He grew up in a hardworking, noisy, and loving family with six siblings that enjoyed stories, joking, playing Sheephead, and playing practical jokes on one another. He attended District 17 in Platte County for elementary school, then attended Columbus High School, graduating in 1945. He participated in Future Farmers of America and he assisted with the track team on Saturdays. He was often chosen to be the head of different teams in PE classes, and he was apparently a good runner.

Fred continued to work on the family farm until he was drafted into the Army in 1951 at age 24. He completed basic training in Fort Jackson, SC, then was stationed at Fort Benning, GA for six months. In 1952, he was sent to South Korea, working in the Engineer Corps building roads and driving supply trucks close to the DMZ. He was honorably discharged April 23, 1953, then served in the Engineer Reserve Corps for another five years.

He returned to farming near Columbus, NE after his discharge from the Army in 1953. He met his future wife, Claretta Marie Gehring, in Columbus in August 1954. They had friends in common and knew each others’ relatives. They were married December 12,1954. Fred was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran church 6 weeks after he and Claretta were married. They had two children, a daughter, Carol Ann, and a son, Gerald LeRoy. Fred and Claretta celebrated 70 years of a happy and blessed marriage in December 2024!

Fred and Claretta farmed mostly near Genoa, NE for the first nine years of their marriage. In November 1963, the family moved to Greeley, CO where Fred soon began work at the Greeley Gas Company (now Atmos Energy). He enjoyed his work and coworkers there for 27 ½ years, at which time he was required to retire at age 65.

Fred enjoyed retirement and remained active during most of it, helping to build the fellowship hall of their church, helped with building and property maintenance, served on the council, and took leadership positions of President, Secretary and Treasurer at times. At home, he did home and yard maintenance, helped Mom with gardening (until age 90), and they travelled to church conventions and to see family and friends in various states. Fred was always willing to help friends, neighbors and family. His words of advice were to work hard, do the job you’re supposed to do, be honest, and show integrity.

Fred and Claretta moved out of their home of 52 years in February 2024 to a 55+ community. This February, Fred had an exacerbation of congestive heart failure, went to the hospital for a few days, then to rehab, and finally skilled nursing. He gradually declined in health until his death on April 7th, 2025. He will be sorely missed.

Fred is preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Lydia, five brothers and their spouses: Paul (Audra), Richard (Gertrude), Ralph (Arlene), Wayne (Helen), Robert (Elaine), and his sister Lorene and her husband, Harley Mueller. A grandson, Sean Hinrichs, and two nieces and two nephews have also preceded him in death: Betty Coffey Galey , David Coffey, Patricia Coffey, and Donald Coffey.

Surviving Fred are his wife, Claretta, daughter Carol (David) Hinrichs, son Gerald, four grandchildren - Stefan (Stormie) Coffey, Jonathan (Anne) Coffey, Katie (Christopher) Neubauer, and Christopher (Alyssa) Coffey, and 7 great-grandchildren – Myshayla, Clayton, Cheyenne, Jace, Cayden, Hazel, and Rosie. He is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law Neal (Linda) Gehring, sister-in-law Margaret Gehring, sister-in-law Dorothy (Robert) Coffey, and twenty-seven nieces and nephews.

Fred was a tremendous gift from God and will always be lovingly remembered for his selfless love that was never in doubt, his affection, his calm and quiet nature, his constant presence, and for being consistently good-natured and even-tempered. He was kind, humble, fun-loving and mischievous, hardworking, dependable, and trustworthy. We are grateful for all he was to us. Farewell, Fred, until we meet again in heaven, in our resurrection victory, won for us through Jesus, our Lord and Savior.