Coleman Kukuk

Coleman Dean Kukuk passed away quietly on Christmas Day, December 25, 2014, with his wife and daughter by his side. He spent his last hours at Hope West Hospice Care Center in Grand Junction, Colorado. He was 86. Coleman was born on January 31, 1928 to Ronald and Clara Kukuk in LaSalle County Illinois. Ronald and Clara lived in Ottawa where Ronald worked at Libbey Owens Glass Company. Later Ronald was hired by a milk company, and the family moved to a farm southeast of Earlville where two more children, Marilyn and Robert were born. Ronald then bought an ice business and family moved to Earlville and took up residence in the Hough house on Ottawa Street next to Dodge Park. Coleman's dad, Ronald died in 1936 after a prolonged illness when Coleman was just 8 years old. The family moved to another home on Ottawa Street in Earlville where Clara lived until her death in 1996. Coleman left high school in 1947 to work full time for his uncle farming. On June 18, 1950 Coleman married Joan Rita Latimer of Earlville. The newlyweds moved two miles west of Earlville, near the farm Coleman worked and later moved to a farm five miles south of Earlville. To this union four children were born, Ronald (Ron ) Coleman, Robert (Bob) John, Kay Denise and Scott Dean. In January of 1963 the family moved to a farm three miles east of Earlville where he farmed until 1981. Coleman loved working the land and was a hard-working, loyal, child of God. His commitment to and love of his four children and his lovely wife were evident in everything he did. In 1981, Coleman "retired" from farming, sold his equipment, packed up and moved to Creede, Colorado where three of their four children lived. After moving to Creede he owned and operated a trucking company that ultimately morphed into an excavating business. He was seen often with his dump truck and backhoe around town and aided in the growth of Creede and Mineral County digging foundations, making driveways, plowing snow and hauling countless loads of grave. Coleman was the proud grandfather of seven grandchildren. All of them had the opportunity to grow up with a fun loving, caring man they looked up to. Coleman's sense of humor and kindness radiated not just to his grandchildren, who fondly remember his sparkling blue eyes and easy smile, but to all who came in contact with him. In 2008, Coleman and Joan, in deference to persistent health issues, moved to the Grand Junction area, a much lower altitude. Because they felt so much better here they took advantage of the entertainments that larger towns can provide like an afternoon matinee. When mobility became an issue they moved in with their daughter, Kaye, in Fruita where Coleman lived until his death. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ronald and Clara, his sister and brother-in-law, Marilyn and Don Hanley, his rother, Robert Kukuk and his niece Jane Hanley Austin all of Illinois. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Joan Latimer Kukuk, Fruita, Colorado, his children, Ron and Joy (Krohse) Kukuk, Naperville, Illinois, Bob and Janelle (Lambert) Kukuk, Creede, Colorado, Kaye Fairchild, Fruita, Colorado and Scott and Cindy (McGavran), Winnemucca, Nevada. He is also survived by his seven grandchildren, Chad (Deanna) Fairchild, Aimee (Michael) Sortor, Margo (Bryan) Eubank, Kyle (Morgan) Fairchild, Janice (Brian) Lopeman, Michael Kukuk and Melanie Kukuk as well as five great-grandchildren. He will be dearly missed by his extended family as well. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to the Hope West Hospice Care Center, www.hopewestco.org/donation or the Roice-Hurst Humane Society, www.rhhumanesociety.com. Cards can be sent to the famly at 169 Chelsea Ct., Fruita, CO 81521. A memorial service will be announced at a later date