Submitted by: Dan Rich
Feb. 4, 1938 - Aug. 3, 1997
South Bend Tribune 8/6/1997
Julie M. (VanOoteghem) Coleman, 59, of Bedford Township, Mich., died Sunday, Aug. 3, at home. Mrs. Coleman was born on Feb. 4, 1938, in Mishawaka, Ind., to Harry and Margaret (Jefferson) VanOoteghem, and had been a Battle Creek, Mich., resident since 1984.
She graduated from Coleman High School, Coleman, Wis., in 1956, and had retired in 1995 as a secretary from the Battle Creek Public Schools. Prior to that she was employed as secretary to the superintendent for the Cassopolis Schools from 1973-1976, secretary to the superintendent for Grand Haven Schools from 1976-1979 and as office treasurer by Homestead High School in Fort Wayne, Ind., from 1979-1984.
On Dec. 27, 1956, in South Bend, Ind., she married Daniel M. Coleman. He died on March 14, 1995. Surviving are sons, Daniel L. (Lori) Coleman of Fruitport, Mich., Scott R. (Mary Jo) Coleman of Bellevue, Mich., and David M. (LeeAnn) Coleman of Spring Lake, Mich.; daughters, Kimberly K. Coleman of Battle Creek and Kelly C. Coleman of Wausau, Wis.; six grandchildren; a brother, Jerry VanOoteghem of Marcellus, Mich.; a half brother, Dave VanOoteghem of Mishawaka; and a stepsister, Toni Burke of Mishawaka.
Also preceding her in death were her parents, Harry VanOoteghem in 1968 and Margaret (Jefferson) VanOoteghem in 1983, and a grandson in 1991.
She enjoyed ceramics, playing bingo and blackjack, being outdoors, camping and fishing. She also was an avid novel reader, enjoyed flower gardening, cooking and traveling and spending time with her family, especially at their cabin in the Upper Peninsula. She enjoyed feeding and watching hummingbirds. She attended both Episcopalian and Quaker churches.
Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today in the Bachman Hebble Funeral Service, 223 N. Bedford Rd., Battle Creek, where services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday. Rev. Carl R. Feltner will officiate. Private internment will be Friday in Fort Custer National Cemetery, Ross Twp., Kalamazoo Co., Mich. Memorial contributions may be made to Good Samaritan Hospice Care, Battle Creek.
Editor: Her mother’s maiden name was Margaret G. VanTornhout. She later married in 1941 to Chester P. Wallace, and finally to an Unknown Jefferson.