Obituay/Jerry LeRoy Coffield, 86

Jerry LeRoy Coffield, 86, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at the Villa St. Vincent Nursing Home in Crookston, MN, with his grandson, Brady, by his side.  Jerry was born on November 25, 1939, in Hallock, MN, to George and Sara "Sadie" (Coburn) Coffield.  Jerry grew up in Cannon Township and graduated from Lancaster School in 1958, later moving to Lake Bronson, MN.

Jerry lived to serve others, beginning with the Army. He served in Germany from 1962-1964 during the Berlin Wall crisis. While in the service, in Fort Chaffee in Arkansas, Jerry was the king of arm wrestling and defeated 1,600 fellow soldiers, only to be taken down by a 6'6" man whose arms were much longer than Jerry's. Upon returning home, he worked for Lake Superior Ship, painting decks for large barges. That is where he met the love of his life, Karen, at a bank in the big city. Jerry returned home from the Superior job and drove truck for a bit. Karen came up for a visit...  Jerry then decided to quit his job and head down the cities to ask Karen out on a date (she almost didn't go out with him because she "didn't know him.") She said yes, and the rest is history; Karen came to Kittson County and never looked back.

Jerry married Karen Fern Dickey on March 26, 1966. Jerry and Karen were blessed with five children. Jerry spent his life dancing, digging ponds and running caterpillars, farming, fixing, driving truck, and hauling scrap iron, as well as working for others. He found genuine enjoyment in the many years he spent hauling hay for Randy, Brady and Trevor (also Daniel, Jesse, Jim, Jack and Dick). As recently as last week, he was attempting to negotiate his release from the Villa, as he needed to get home and help haul hay! Jerry loved coffee hour at the local restaurants throughout the years; he enjoyed visiting and drinking his green tea with friends and family.  His ritual over the past few years included a Sunday drive around the Spear W block to bring treats to his grandkids and stop and see the Baileys, Karboviaks and the Hagens.  Besides 18-wheelers, Jerry's pride and joy were his grandkids.

Jerry is survived by his wife of nearly sixty years, Karen; children, James (Sue), Cheryl, Randy (Mendy), Daniel, and Jesse; grandchildren, Jason (Hollie) Staebell, Emily (Zeke) Coffield, Whitney (Josh) Carr, Brady (Hayley) Coffield, Trevor (Grace) Coffield, Katie (Alex) Vagle, Kyler Coffield and Connor Coffield; great grandchildren, Ashlie, Alise, and Sydnie Staebell, Parker, Easton, Colton, and Baylor Carr, Iris, Livi, Sutton, and Sander Coffield, Croix and Clay Coffield, and Shay Vagle; his brother, Pat Coffield; sisters-in-law, Faye Dickey, Nancy Stryker, and Jim Holweger. Jerry also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Jerry is preceded in death by his parents, George and Sadie Coffield; his in-laws, Arnold Dickey and Walter and Ethel Walz; sisters, Myrtle and Jim Lawler, Bernice and Ivan Olson; brother, Jack and Beverly Coffield; brothers-in-law, Ed Stryker and Don Dickey.

A funeral service for Jerry will be held on Tuesday, December 16 at 2:00 p.m. in Lancaster Community Center, Lancaster, MN. Visitation will be held at the community center for an hour before the service. Arrangements by Austin Funeral Home, Hallock.