Joseph Jene (Jay) Coffelt passed away peacefully in Missouri Valley, on July 27. Jay was born July 5, 1944, the son of William Thomas (Bill) and Marion (Jacobsen) Coffelt. He lived his entire life in Harrison County, including Modale, Mondamin, and Logan, and graduated from Logan, Class of 1962.
Jay bought his first 80 acres soon after graduating high school and farming was a passion he pursued until retiring in 2013. Along the way, Jay was never idle, working as an auto and farm equipment mechanic, construction worker all over the U.S., and even as a black jack dealer at a casino in Omaha.
Jay was married for 41 years to Evelyn Ann Ellsworth before her passing in 2020. Together, they travelled the world, mostly on hunting trips to Africa, Argentina, New Zealand, Mexico, and more. While he was an avid hunter, Jay always said he wished he could bring every animal back to life, as it was the hunt itself that he loved.
He honored the land and the wildlife it sustained. He was a conservationist and was proud to have been awarded the Wildlife Management Award from the Harrison County Soil and Water Conservation District in 2014.
Jay was preceded in death by his parents, two infant children (Ella and Bart), his wife Evelyn, a sister (Betty Jean), and a brother (Jimmy), as well as several life-long friends. He is survived by his daughters, Sherri Coffelt and Keri (Coffelt) McLandsborough; son-in-law, Austin McLandsborough; grandson, Liam McLandsborough; sister, Lois (Coffelt) Messer; as well as nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
A visitation will be held at Fouts Funeral Home in Woodbine on August 3 from 4–5:30 pm with a Celebration of Life Service at 5:30 pm.
Memorial donations may be made to the Logan Fire Department New Building Fund.
Fouts Funeral Home in Woodbine was in charge of the arrangements. www.foutsfuneralhome.com
