Obituary Listings

Coffman, Terry Lee Age 71

Terry Lee Coffman was born November 3, 1947 in Buffalo Center, Iowa, and went to be with the Lord on August 28, 2019.

Terry grew up in Alsip on 119th Street west of Cicero, in the area where the I-294 Tollway was built in the late 1950’s. Before that time, it was rural, with around 20 homes. Terry and his brothers had plenty of room to run around, play, and fish. He especially took advantage of a large, nearby pond, where in addition to fishing he exhibited his very fine ice-skating skills.

Terry attended Lane Elementary School in Alsip and Eisenhower High School in Blue Island. He enlisted in the Army at the age of 17, serving three years until 1967. He completed his education during his service in France and Germany, receiving training in communications.

After his military service, Terry was employed in several different fields. He worked briefly at 3M and Johnson & Johnson, but soon learned that he preferred to be his own boss. He began to learn all there was to know about siding and gutters, and eventually operated his own business for a number of years. After injuries forced him out of the construction business, he transitioned to real estate and appraisals, heating and air conditioning, and health products sales and support.

Terry had three children—Jeannette, Charles, who sadly died at the age of four days, and Scott.
When Terry became a Christian in the mid-1980’s, he found his way to Moraine Valley Church, where he met Anne. They were married in 1991, and he became the stepfather to Melanie.

Terry worked diligently and continuously throughout his life, but once retired, he transferred that work ethic to a new hobby, gardening. He became quite the expert and avid gardener, first working with his brother Jack in his large home garden, and then at the Oak Forest Community Garden. For the past six years, Terry planted, carefully cultivated, and harvested five large garden plots filled with tomatoes, peppers, onions, garlic, kale, squash, beets, lettuce, radishes, beans, okra, and various herbs, to name just some of the produce. He greatly enjoyed making pasta sauce and other vegetable dishes from his garden bounty, but also took great delight in donating much of this fresh, organic food to those who needed it most. In addition to gardening, Terry loved fishing, and spent as much time as possible seeking salmon, bass, and trout in Lake Michigan and various rivers in Indiana and Wisconsin.

Terry is survived by his loving wife, Anne; his son Scott Coffman (Dena) and his daughter Jeannette Gorski (Rob); his stepdaughter Melanie Heaney (John Paul); eight grandchildren and step-grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; four brothers, Ray Coffman (Karyn), Jack Coffman (Carol), Dean Coffman, Gary Coffman (Linda); three sisters, Karen Strozewski (Dave), Jeannette Slager, Bonnie Berrio (Peter); sister-in-law Janet Coffman and a host of nieces, nephews, and their children. He was preceded in death by his brother, Larry Coffman.

Memorial donations may be directed to St. Andrew United Methodist Church in Homewood, Illinois, where Terry most recently attended and received strength, comfort and guidance.



Visitation Tuesday 3-9 p.m. at the Robert J. Sheehy & Sons Funeral Home, 9000 W. 151st Street, Orland Park, IL.

Lying in State Wednesday 9:00 a.m. until time of Service 10:00 a.m. at St. Andrew United Methodist Church, 18850 Riegel Road, Homewood, IL.

Interment Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery


www.sheehyfh.com 708-857-7878

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