Clarence Joseph Coenen
February 2, 1932 — September 18, 2024
On February 2, 1932, Godfrey "Shorty" and Agnes (Michalski) Coenen welcomed Clarence Joseph Coenen into the world. He was born in the same house as his father, located 1.5 miles west of Westphalia, IA, where his grandparents Martin and Regina (Zimmerman) had originally lived. Clarence was the fifth of eight children.
He was baptized at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Westphalia, marking the beginning of his lifelong membership with the parish. He later received his First Holy Communion and Confirmation there. Clarence attended St. Boniface grade school and, after completing the 8th grade, left school to focus on running the family farm, his true passion. This allowed his father to pursue his love of carpentry.
On February 9, 1959, Clarence married Rose Marie "Rosie" Beran at St. Boniface Church. They were blessed with four children: Kelvin, Leann, Curtis, and Greg.
In 1968, the Coenen family briefly relocated to California, where Clarence managed a Magnavox TV store. They later moved to Brighton, CO, where Clarence and Rosie managed a Coast to Coast hardware store.
After his father's passing in 1971, Clarence and Rosie returned to Iowa, where their hearts truly resided. Clarence longed to return to farming, and they eventually moved back to the home where Clarence was born. They made it their home for the next 36 years, until Rosie's passing in 2008. Clarence farmed until health issues forced him to stop in 1983. During his farming years, he also drove a school bus for the Harlan Community School District.
After retiring from farming, Clarence worked for Western Iowa Medical and helped open and manage the store in Harlan, IA. Both he and Rosie retired in 1998 and enjoyed traveling with their travel trailer, visiting family in California and Florida. Their children and grandchildren were their pride and joy.
Following Rosie's death, Clarence spent a few more years on the farm before moving to Harlan. In December 2017, he moved to Windsor, CO, to be closer to his daughter Leann. He remained there until his death on September 18, 2024, at the age of 92 years and 7 months.
Clarence always had a song in his heart, a smile on his lips, a twinkle in his eye, and a joke in his back pocket. A friend once described him as being like "Christmas." He had a deep love for music, singing for funerals and weddings, and participating in the Westphalia choir, the Goldenaires, community chorus, and plays.
At age 87, Clarence started a music sing-along program at his independent living facility, which continues to this day.
He loved playing cards and fondly recalled playing as a child with his parents, continuing into adulthood. His favorite game was Pitch, and he was never too tired to play at least one hand. He played his last hand of Pitch with his son Curtis on Sunday, September 15.
Clarence also had a deep love of sports, especially baseball. If you ever lost track of him, you could usually find him either in the grandstand watching a game or in front of the TV doing the same. However, his greatest loves were his faith and his family. His faith remained strong until the hour of his death. On the day he passed, although unable to communicate, he recited the rosary in full and even asked Jesus to "come back tomorrow."
Clarence had a fierce love for his children, nine grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Rosie; his grandson, Christopher Lynn; his parents, Godfrey and Agnes; and his siblings Melvin, Madeline, Eileen, Rita, and Elroy.
He is survived by his children: Kelvin and Christina (McFarland) of Modesto, CA; Leann and Scot Krayenhagen of Severance, CO; Curtis and Beverly (Boyce) of Goodyear, AZ; and Greg and Donna (Schwery) of Omaha, NE. He is also survived by grandchildren Patrick Coenen, Sadie Vasquez, Cristina Williams, Nicole Joaquin, Sunny Blumen, Danielle Coenen, Davis Coenen, and Ashley Coenen, as well as eight great-grandchildren. His surviving siblings include his brother Virgil of Harlan, his sister Janice Rau of Clive, IA, and in-laws Larry and Kathy Hull, Bruce Hardy, Delbert Hull, Lita Van Cleave, and Mary and Bill Murtaugh. He also leaves behind many nieces and nephews and his special friend, Marilyn Propp of Colorado.
He was baptized at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Westphalia, marking the beginning of his lifelong membership with the parish. He later received his First Holy Communion and Confirmation there. Clarence attended St. Boniface grade school and, after completing the 8th grade, left school to focus on running the family farm, his true passion. This allowed his father to pursue his love of carpentry.
On February 9, 1959, Clarence married Rose Marie "Rosie" Beran at St. Boniface Church. They were blessed with four children: Kelvin, Leann, Curtis, and Greg.
In 1968, the Coenen family briefly relocated to California, where Clarence managed a Magnavox TV store. They later moved to Brighton, CO, where Clarence and Rosie managed a Coast to Coast hardware store.
After his father's passing in 1971, Clarence and Rosie returned to Iowa, where their hearts truly resided. Clarence longed to return to farming, and they eventually moved back to the home where Clarence was born. They made it their home for the next 36 years, until Rosie's passing in 2008. Clarence farmed until health issues forced him to stop in 1983. During his farming years, he also drove a school bus for the Harlan Community School District.
After retiring from farming, Clarence worked for Western Iowa Medical and helped open and manage the store in Harlan, IA. Both he and Rosie retired in 1998 and enjoyed traveling with their travel trailer, visiting family in California and Florida. Their children and grandchildren were their pride and joy.
Following Rosie's death, Clarence spent a few more years on the farm before moving to Harlan. In December 2017, he moved to Windsor, CO, to be closer to his daughter Leann. He remained there until his death on September 18, 2024, at the age of 92 years and 7 months.
Clarence always had a song in his heart, a smile on his lips, a twinkle in his eye, and a joke in his back pocket. A friend once described him as being like "Christmas." He had a deep love for music, singing for funerals and weddings, and participating in the Westphalia choir, the Goldenaires, community chorus, and plays.
At age 87, Clarence started a music sing-along program at his independent living facility, which continues to this day.
He loved playing cards and fondly recalled playing as a child with his parents, continuing into adulthood. His favorite game was Pitch, and he was never too tired to play at least one hand. He played his last hand of Pitch with his son Curtis on Sunday, September 15.
Clarence also had a deep love of sports, especially baseball. If you ever lost track of him, you could usually find him either in the grandstand watching a game or in front of the TV doing the same. However, his greatest loves were his faith and his family. His faith remained strong until the hour of his death. On the day he passed, although unable to communicate, he recited the rosary in full and even asked Jesus to "come back tomorrow."
Clarence had a fierce love for his children, nine grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Rosie; his grandson, Christopher Lynn; his parents, Godfrey and Agnes; and his siblings Melvin, Madeline, Eileen, Rita, and Elroy.
He is survived by his children: Kelvin and Christina (McFarland) of Modesto, CA; Leann and Scot Krayenhagen of Severance, CO; Curtis and Beverly (Boyce) of Goodyear, AZ; and Greg and Donna (Schwery) of Omaha, NE. He is also survived by grandchildren Patrick Coenen, Sadie Vasquez, Cristina Williams, Nicole Joaquin, Sunny Blumen, Danielle Coenen, Davis Coenen, and Ashley Coenen, as well as eight great-grandchildren. His surviving siblings include his brother Virgil of Harlan, his sister Janice Rau of Clive, IA, and in-laws Larry and Kathy Hull, Bruce Hardy, Delbert Hull, Lita Van Cleave, and Mary and Bill Murtaugh. He also leaves behind many nieces and nephews and his special friend, Marilyn Propp of Colorado.
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