John Coil

John Ralph Coil was born on August 5, 1934, in Canby, the son of Otis and Thressa Coil. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and attended school in Minneota and Canby, graduating from high school in Granite Falls. He then attended Vo-Tech School for a short time in Granite Falls before getting his first truck driving job hauling beets. John was employed for several businesses including Renco Gas in Granite Falls, Red-E-Mix Concrete Company of Granite Falls, Montevideo & Clara City, Clara City Lumber Company, Montevideo Block & Tile Co., milk truck driver for Viessman Trucking, weekend manager for Gary's Red Owl Store of Montevideo, drove side dump for Schoep & Sons Construction and most recently had been employed as a retail associate by Wal-Mart in Montevideo. In his active years, John enjoyed bowling in the West Central League from 1985-1988, participating in numerous tournaments. He also enjoyed hunting, golfing, playing cards and spending time with his family and friends. John also at one time served on the Canby Police Reserve. He was diagnosed with cancer about a year and a half ago and lost his courageous battle in the evening hours of Saturday, December 15, 2012, while under hospice care at his residence. He was 78 years of age. Surviving family include his wife Marvel of Montevideo; his children- Deborah Coil of Clarkfield, Corinne (& Paul) Vega of Montevideo, Bradley Coil of Clarkfield, Annette (& Eddy) Oliviers of Fargo, ND, Douglas Coil of Canby, Cynthia Coil of Montevideo and Brandon (& Lisa) Coil of Madison; 22 grandchildren; 20 great grandchildren; 2 sisters- Marlys (& Joe) Kontz of Canby and Connie (& Kenneth Striech of Minneapolis; 1 brother- Roger Coil of Anoka and numerous nieces, nephews & extended family. John was preceded in death by his parents; a sister- Alta Watt; uncles- Ralph & E. B. Coil; sisters-in-law Joyce Coil & Delores Peterson (Drengson); brothers-in-law Donald Peterson, Henry Teigland & Dorance Drengson and his mother-in-law Florence Drengson.