Obituary of Burton Coleman

Burton Rufus Coleman, 79, of Spring Vale Township, Minnesota, left this world, to be with Jesus on Thursday, January 31, 2013 at his home surrounded by family. He was born April 28, 1933 in Spring Vale Township, Minnesota to Raymond and Alida (Sodergren) Coleman. Burt grew up in Spring Vale where he attended country school and graduated from Cambridge High School in 1951. After high school he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in Korea. He served in the artillery division and was a combat officer driver, he was honorably discharged after serving 2 years. Following his military service, Burt attended the University of Minnesota for three years. He started a career with Haughton Elevator co. in 1958 in Local 9 and transferred to Local 33 in Des Moines, Iowa in 1961. He Became Business Agent in the early 70's till mid 80's and retired from the field in 1993. Then moved back to Minnesota and lived out his retirement as tree farming and game preservation became his focus as well as being an elevator Q.E.I Inspector in MN and Wisconsin, until November of 2012. Totaling 54 years in the Elevator Trade, most of those years in the I.U.E.C. Burt was united in marriage to Joyce Soderman at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Brainerd, MN. They made their home in Des Moines, Iowa. Burt was a volunteer police officer in Grimes, Iowa for a number of years, as well as City Councilman for 17 years. Burt was active in the Masons, the Shriners, and the Cambridge American Legion. He was a member of Salem Lutheran Church in Dalbo where he served on the Church Board. Burt also was a member of the Spring Vale Township Board for several years, a member of the Isanti County Sportsman's Club, Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, National Wild Turkey Federation, Pheasants Forever, Ducks Unlimited, was a benefactor of the NRA, Second Amendment Foundation and a member of the MN Tree Farmers Association, and the John Deere 2 Cylinder Club. He was an active outdoorsman, enjoying hunting, trapping, fishing, tree farming, and was a major contributor to many wildlife groups. He loved to work on and fix things, and had a special love for fixing cuckoo clocks. He was preceded in death by his parents, infant brother Rueben, sisters Connie Kastner and Willette Fredeen. Burt is survived by his wife Joyce, children Mark (Lorie) Hanson of Guam, Cyndi Dowling of CA, Michael Coleman of DeSoto, IA, Myron Coleman of West Des Moines, IA, Marshall (Valerie) Coleman of Eagle, NE, Matt (Jody) Coleman of Pleasant Hill, IA, 12 grandchildren Monika, Daniel and Douglas Hanson, Ellie (Anthony) Ruby, Kendra, Jordan, Kaitlyn, Erick, Drew, Megan, Hannah and Joshua Coleman, 3 great grandsons Easton Hanson, Nicholas Flore, and AJ Ruby, 2 great-granddaughters Alexia and Abbygale Ruby, brother Stewart (Allene) Coleman of Stanchfield, as well as many nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.