William H. “Bill” Colman Jr., 89, of Jackson, passed away Friday, June 12, 2020, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau.
He was born September 25, 1930, in Shreveport, Louisiana, to William Sr. and Geraldine M. Harper Colman. He and Evelyn H. Milas were married May 4, 1957, in Forest Park, Illinois.
Bill was a 1949 graduate of Cape Central High School. He attended SEMO and Milwaukee School of Engineering. He entered the U.S. Navy on January 3, 1951 and was a 2nd Class Electrician Mate on the USS Braine DD630. He was honorably discharged on November 8, 1954.
The Colman family moved to Jackson in 1968. Bill worked as an engineer at Lenco in Jackson, retiring in 1999. He was a faithful, active member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, previously serving as an usher and Sunday School Superintendant.
Bill had an infectious personality, was always full of energy and fun, and loved telling jokes to make people laugh. He shared close relationships with many of his children’s friends because they thought of him as a father figure. In his spare time, he enjoyed playing golf, woodworking, hunting, and yardwork.
Loving survivors include his wife of 63 years, Evelyn Colman of Jackson; two children, Jon (Pam) Colman and Beth Bell of Jackson; four grandchildren: Casey (Hank) Jones and their children Lesleigh and Elijah of Katy, Texas; Jessi Colman of Jackson; Laura (Derek) Kennedy and their daughter McKinley of Fishers, Indiana; and Lindsey (Tyler) Jones of Richmond, Virginia; a sister, Geraldine “Gerre” Dudley of St. Louis; and his best buddy, Vernon Werner of Jackson.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and a sister, Harriet (Gene) Shorb.
Visitation is from 3 to 7 p.m., Monday, June 15, 2020, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson. The funeral service will be at 7 p.m., immediately followed by military honors.
Interment is private at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri.
Memorials may take the form of contributions to St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson.
Arrangements by McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by clicking on the TRIBUTE WALL of Bill’s personal obituary page at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.
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