Dale Coakley

Dale Lavern Coakley, 86 of Kearney died Tuesday, January 17th at his residence. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM, Friday at First United Methodist Church in Kearney. The Revs. Gary Main and Linda Martin will officiate. Interment will be in the Prairie Center Cemetery at Havens Chapel. Military rites at graveside will be conducted by the Nebraska National Guard in conjunction with VFW Post 759 and American Legion Post 52 of Kearney. Visitation will be 5-7pm, Thursday at O'Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home in Kearney and continue 1 hour prior to service time at the church. Memorials are suggested to the United Church of Christ Retired Pastors Pension Endowment Fund or Kearney First United Methodist Church for the youth. Online condolences may be submitted to osrfh.com. O'Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home in Kearney is in charge of arrangements. Dale was born July 1, 1925 on his family's farm near Arcadia,NE to Richard "Walter" and Myrtle M. (Applegarth) Coakley. He grew up in the Arcadia area and graduated from Comstock High School. He entered the army in March 1945 and served during World War II. Dale was honorably discharged in October 1946. He was united in marriage to Rita Mae Benson on June 30, 1947 in Phillipsburg, KS. The couple lived and farmed near Comstock. He graduated from Kearney State College and attended St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City. Beginning in 1957, Dale served at Haven's Chapel and the Riverdale United Methodist Church as his first pastorate. He lived in many towns in Nebraska, Kansas, North Dakota and Iowa through his years as a pastor for the United Church of Christ. He also served many local area churches as an interim pastor. He loved pastimes of fishing, gardening, writing poetry and woodwork. Survivors include his wife, Rita of Kearney; sons, David Coakley and wife Nadine of Nixa, MO, Daniel Coakley and wife Mary of Hastings, and Gene Coakley and wife Nancy of Kearney; sister, Cleo Sawyer; sister-in-law, Barbara Luedtke; grandchildren, Crystal Coakley, Wendy Evans and husband Michael, Randi Genuchi and husband Kyle, Dustin Coakley and wife April, Justin Coakley, David Coakley and Nicolas Coakley; great grandchildren, Gabriel Evans, Nathaniel Evans, Madelyn Genuchi and Samuel Coakley; and special family friend, Carol Wolters. He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Laurita; brothers, Leroy, Elmer and Johny; sisters, Beulah, Blanche, Mildred and Alta; and grandson twins, Jason and Christopher.

Dale Coakley

July 1, 1925 - January 17, 2012