Coonie Couillard

Age 85, passed away Sunday, January 23, 2005 at a local nursing home. Coonie was born in Kimberly on December 10, 1919, the son of the late Benjamin and Maggie (Allie) Couillard. He graduated from the Kimberly High School in 1938, and in 1940 enlisted in the United States Army. He served as a corporal in the 32nd Red Arrow Armored Division. He was stationed in the Philippines, and after his return, became a member of the William Verhagen Post #60 of the American Legion. On September 15, 1945, he married the former Virginia Faust in Kaukauna; she survives. For over thirty-eight years, Coonie was employed by Kimberly Clark, retiring in 1976. After his retirement, he and Virginia enjoyed exercising at the Kimberly Clark Health Center in Neenah. Coonie was a longtime and faithful member of Holy Spirit Parish in Kimberly, the Knights of Columbus, and also volunteered as a tutor for Holy Name School in his retirement. Coonie loved music, and was a former member of the Kau-Chute Barbershop Chorus, St. Paul’s Choir, the Reach Out Choir, and the Good News Choir. Coonie also served as president of the Kimberly Band. Many will also remember Coonie for his community involvement over the years – he was a member of the Board of Directors at the Capital Credit Union, as a volunteer for the Fox Cities Tourism Council, a member of the Village of Kimberly Planning Committee, the Boy Scouts of America, and the Holy Name Cemetery Committee. For nearly twenty years, he and Virginia spent their winters in Gulf Shores, Alabama, where Coonie assisted with the Gulf Shore Entertainment Series.

Coonie is survived by his wife of fifty-nine years: Virginia Faust Couillard of Little Chute; five children: Karen (Howard) Glass of Keene Valley, New York; Gary (Kathy Tyler) Couillard of Salt Lake City, Utah; Thomas (Jeanne Higbee) Couillard of Bloomington, Minnesota; Patrick (Elizabeth) Couillard of Townsend; Jayne (Steve Coia) Couillard of Borneo, Indonesia; ten grandchildren: William Glass-Husain, Dan Glass, Charlie Glass, Alegria Couillard, Christopher Couillard, Bryan Couillard, Ellyn Couillard, Ashley Couillard, Jason Couillard, and Tamara Coia; and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Louis Couillard and Patrick Couillard, and sisters Ardell Keller and Genevieve Braney.

The funeral liturgy for Coonie will be held at 12:00 Noon on Friday, January 28, 2005 at HOLY SPIRIT PARISH – KIMBERLY, 600 E. Kimberly Avenue, with Fr. Tom Pomeroy officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery, with military honors by the members of William Verhagen Post #60 of the American Legion. Friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday from 4 – 8 PM and again at the church on Friday from 11 AM until the hour of the service. There will be an American Legion prayer service at 7:15 PM Thursday at the funeral home followed by a parish prayer and scripture service at 7:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established.

Jansen Fargo Funeral Home
204 E. Kimberly Avenue
Kimberly, WI 54136
920-788-6202