1950
Daniel
2023
Daniel Coen
May 5, 1950 — December 25, 2023
Golconda
Daniel Coen, P.E., R.L.S., 73, of Southern Illinois died on Christmas morning. He was born May 5, 1950, he often enjoyed his Mexican birthday with margaritas and a sombrero. It has been said he made the best green chicken enchiladas in Illinois!
He was preceded in death by his parents Bill and Ruth Coen, his wife of more than 48 years the original Janet S. (Andrews) Coen, daughter Carolyn L. Coen, and granddaughter Mary E. George. He will be remembered fondly by his children Brenda (Michael) George of Springfield, MO, Melissa (Daniel) LaRose of West Frankfort, IL, Amy (Guido) Schlabitz of Champaign, IL, Paul (Maggie) Coen of Bloomington, IN, 7 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren and many other caring family members.
He enjoyed growing up in the small town of Neoga, IL where he lettered in basketball and attended Neoga High School with good life-long friends. He graduated from University of Illinois in Environmental Engineering (1972), worked for the State of Illinois as a Conservation Engineer and had a successful career engineering all over the state of Arizona. He also spent time as President of the Arizona Society of Professional Engineers, The Arizona Wildlife Federation, White Mountain Shootin’ Society, and as President of the Arizona Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, he reintroduced wild turkeys back to AZ. He retired to Golconda, IL as a wild turkey and whitetail deer outfitter and he built a hunting lodge in the Shawnee National Forest big enough to proudly display all his hunting trophies, including from his African safari. He was always planning meals and feeding people he just met. When he wasn’t hunting, at work, or cooking, Dan enjoyed playing cards at the Golden Circle Senior Center, volunteering with the Boy Scouts, and teaching Hunter Safety Courses for the local community. He served as President of the Pope County Sportsman’s Club to spend more time hunting and fishing with his buddies. Dan was notorious for telling tall tales of his "great adventures" that we all loved. He really helped to build out and participate in the communities he was in. He was a former member of Pope County School Board, Association of Conservation Engineers (1978-2018), Southern Illinois Prescribed Burning Association, Wabash and Ohio Valley Special Education District, Ducks Unlimited, and the National Rifle Association. All of which helped him to build a better community.
He was proud of the fact he was diversely qualified in many things. These included being a Registered Professional Engineer, Registered Professional Land Surveyor, Registered SCUBA Diver, and a trained pilot. He also proudly authored numerous publications and articles, and even wrote a book about his father’s WW2 service in the US Navy. He enjoyed all things on Civil War history and even had an extensive collection of books on the war. Dan and Janet would attend reenactments and dress up for cotillions as well. He was a proud member of the First Methodist Church of Golconda, and was active in both the Presbyterian and Methodist churches throughout his life.
A longtime blood donor, he continued giving life through his donations of eyes, bone, and (butt) skin following his death. We are so glad he was able to use all his meager ASSets even though we all know he was quite deficient in his.
Dan’s sense of humor and quick wit were some of his best-known traits, while his teasing will probably not be missed. He will often be remembered by his great-grandchildren for his love of green popsicles and wearing the Santa suit their great-grandmother tailored for him. Dan spent the last few years of his life substitute teaching, enjoying a good Bloody Mary, attending “ball” games, and junkin’ with his girlfriend Donna Higgerson-Dean and her family.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to Mid-America Transplant Foundation in Dan’s name OR in honor of his grandson who fought cancer and beat it, Cardinal Glennon Children’s Foundation in Emerson LaRose’s name. Special thanks to the staff at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis and SIH Memorial Hospital of Carbondale and all who took care of our dad the last few months of his life.
He was preceded in death by his parents Bill and Ruth Coen, his wife of more than 48 years the original Janet S. (Andrews) Coen, daughter Carolyn L. Coen, and granddaughter Mary E. George. He will be remembered fondly by his children Brenda (Michael) George of Springfield, MO, Melissa (Daniel) LaRose of West Frankfort, IL, Amy (Guido) Schlabitz of Champaign, IL, Paul (Maggie) Coen of Bloomington, IN, 7 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren and many other caring family members.
He enjoyed growing up in the small town of Neoga, IL where he lettered in basketball and attended Neoga High School with good life-long friends. He graduated from University of Illinois in Environmental Engineering (1972), worked for the State of Illinois as a Conservation Engineer and had a successful career engineering all over the state of Arizona. He also spent time as President of the Arizona Society of Professional Engineers, The Arizona Wildlife Federation, White Mountain Shootin’ Society, and as President of the Arizona Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, he reintroduced wild turkeys back to AZ. He retired to Golconda, IL as a wild turkey and whitetail deer outfitter and he built a hunting lodge in the Shawnee National Forest big enough to proudly display all his hunting trophies, including from his African safari. He was always planning meals and feeding people he just met. When he wasn’t hunting, at work, or cooking, Dan enjoyed playing cards at the Golden Circle Senior Center, volunteering with the Boy Scouts, and teaching Hunter Safety Courses for the local community. He served as President of the Pope County Sportsman’s Club to spend more time hunting and fishing with his buddies. Dan was notorious for telling tall tales of his "great adventures" that we all loved. He really helped to build out and participate in the communities he was in. He was a former member of Pope County School Board, Association of Conservation Engineers (1978-2018), Southern Illinois Prescribed Burning Association, Wabash and Ohio Valley Special Education District, Ducks Unlimited, and the National Rifle Association. All of which helped him to build a better community.
He was proud of the fact he was diversely qualified in many things. These included being a Registered Professional Engineer, Registered Professional Land Surveyor, Registered SCUBA Diver, and a trained pilot. He also proudly authored numerous publications and articles, and even wrote a book about his father’s WW2 service in the US Navy. He enjoyed all things on Civil War history and even had an extensive collection of books on the war. Dan and Janet would attend reenactments and dress up for cotillions as well. He was a proud member of the First Methodist Church of Golconda, and was active in both the Presbyterian and Methodist churches throughout his life.
A longtime blood donor, he continued giving life through his donations of eyes, bone, and (butt) skin following his death. We are so glad he was able to use all his meager ASSets even though we all know he was quite deficient in his.
Dan’s sense of humor and quick wit were some of his best-known traits, while his teasing will probably not be missed. He will often be remembered by his great-grandchildren for his love of green popsicles and wearing the Santa suit their great-grandmother tailored for him. Dan spent the last few years of his life substitute teaching, enjoying a good Bloody Mary, attending “ball” games, and junkin’ with his girlfriend Donna Higgerson-Dean and her family.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to Mid-America Transplant Foundation in Dan’s name OR in honor of his grandson who fought cancer and beat it, Cardinal Glennon Children’s Foundation in Emerson LaRose’s name. Special thanks to the staff at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis and SIH Memorial Hospital of Carbondale and all who took care of our dad the last few months of his life.
In accordance to the wishes of Daniel Coen cremation rites have been accorded. There will be a Celebration of Life held at a later date.
Professional services were entrusted to Southern Cremation and Burial Services.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Daniel Coen, please visit our flower store.
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