Richard Wayne Coffman

A Memorial Service for Richard W. Coffman will be held on Friday, January 13, 2023 at 1:00 PM at First Baptist Church, Roseau, MN.

Richard Wayne Coffman of Roseau went home to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on December 16, 2022, at the age of 71. Rich was born on June 29, 1951, to Ansil and Dorothy (Clark) Coffman in Decatur, Illinois, where he spent the first nine years of his life. One of his favorite young memories was growing corn, putting it in his little wagon and going around the neighborhood, door to door, selling it. His dad transferred to the Army Depot in Sacramento, CA, in 1960. Rich attended Peter Lassen Elementary School and a Baptist Church nearby, where at the age of 13, Rich accepted Jesus as his Savior and was baptized. He graduated from Sacramento High School in 1969. He then completed the Auto Mechanic courses at Sacramento City College and was certified as an Automotive Technician. After working at both the Toyota and Pontiac dealerships, he bought into the Shell franchise and became owner of a Shell Full-Service Station.

In 1976, he met Cathy Carr, a regular customer at the gas station located in her neighborhood, and they married on June 23, 1979. Back then, Rich’s mode of transportation was his motorcycle. Rich and Cathy would “joy ride” around town, however, Cathy’s mom was not too happy about that. In 1984, wanting to escape the “hustle and bustle” of city life, Rich, Cathy and their dog, Maggie, made the long and arduous move to Roseau in an old converted beverage truck to where her brother, Bob Carr and sister-in-law, Jan, lived. Rich started working at Messelt Ford and continued his automotive education. Rich and Cathy were blessed with the arrival of their adopted son, Matthew, in 1993. Matthew was the center of Rich and Cathy’s world and Rich loved being Matthew’s dad, playing together and going places together. Boxes and boxes of photographs document the fun times shared by father and son. One highlight Matthew remembers are the hayrides his dad planned for several of his birthdays. Such anticipation of having a fun time with a truckload of friends.

Rich, alongside his good friend and neighbor Kim Sjaaheim, raised beef cattle for several years.  However, Cathy did not seem to think the business was quite worth it when the cattle broke out and they had to chase after and corral them. Thankfully, Kim had seven children to help when Rich would call and sound the alarm that they were loose once again.

In the historic flood of 2002, the Coffman home became an island for more than five weeks, surrounded by sandbag dikes placed by caring friends, community members and the National Guard. Rich and Cathy would take shifts sleeping to monitor the five sump pumps and make sure they were free from debris and operating properly 24/7. Canoeing was the only way in and out. If not for Ed and Jane Gracza’s canoe and Rich’s dedication to saving his home, the flood waters would have overtaken it. In 2003, he went to work at C&M Ford in Hallock for two years. Wanting to work closer to home, he began work as a welder at Polaris, and retired eight years later. 

Rich enjoyed the companionship of many dogs over the years, but his favorite was a beautiful black dog, named, Stretch, who passed away several years ago. He enjoyed riding his bicycle, working outside, mowing the lawn (although if questioned, he might deny it), working the soil with his tractor, chopping wood, and growing assorted fruits and vegetables to sell. At one point, together with Cathy’s brother and sister-in-law, they grew thousands of tulips on their property, supplying many businesses and people with beautiful flowers. He was an avid reader of history, especially WWll, and enjoyed watching Western and SciFi movies. He liked playing the computer game Civilization, but he felt the game cheated??? Rich had a collection of flashlights. He loved them as a child and the family continued getting him unique flashlights over the years for birthday and Christmas gifts. Later in life, with his research and understanding of the mechanics and operation of working things, he became a “MacGyver” of sorts, fixing things in unconventional ways. Alternate sources of energy, such as solar and wind power, intrigued him and his yard has several solar panels and a windmill to attest to that. 

Rich was a member of First Baptist Church of Roseau, where he held positions of deacon, treasurer, AWANA leader and helped with the Blessings x 2 Ministry.

Rich is survived by his wife of 43 years, Cathy Coffman, son Matthew Coffman; mother-in-law, Cathy (Carr) Watson of Yountville, CA; sister-in-law, Jan (Ross) Carr-Herseth of Roseau, MN; nephews: Ken (Lisa) Carr Jr., Robert (Jami) Carr and Sam (Ashley) Carr; nieces, Jen (Mitch) Carr and  Lisa Carr; great-niece: Audrey Carr: great nephews: Ayden Munoz, Preston Nowack, Leyton Nowack, Silas Nowack, Braxton Carr, Briggs Carr and Harlow Carr.

Rich was preceded in death by his parents, Ansil and Dorothy Coffman, and sister, Glena Zayas; fathers-in-law: Robert Carr Sr. and Richard Watson; brothers-in-law: Bob Carr Jr. and Kenneth Carr Sr.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Richard Wayne Coffman, please visit our floral store.