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Obituary for Caroline Sims Coon
Caroline Sims Coon, age 89, passed away peacefully at 2:50 a.m. on Monday, September 30, 2019 at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center in Mattoon, IL. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 5, 2019 at 10:00 am at Krabel Funeral Home in Oakland, IL. Burial will be in the Oakland Cemetery. Friends may call from 5:00-7:00 pm on Friday, October 4, 2019 at Krabel Funeral Home. Caroline was born on July 14, 1930 in Terre Haute, IN to Emil Everett and Kathryn Fayne Bell Sims. She married Wm. Max Coon on August 11, 1951 in Mattoon, IL. He pre-deceased her on November 1, 2004. Caroline leaves two daughters, Kathy Thompson (partner Richard Beery) Decatur; Nancy Holzrichter (David) of Oakland, and two sons, Eric Coon (fiance Shae McQueen Plush) of Ashmore; and Jeff (Jo) Coon of Charleston; seven grandchildren Greg Thompson (Erin) North Liberty, IA; Matt Thompson (Stacie) Maryville, IL; Andy Thompson (Laura) Manhattan, KS; Tracy Brogan (Michael) Chicago, IL; David Holzrichter (Heather) Roscoe, IL; Christopher Coon (Michelle) Seattle, WA; and Jason Coon of Chicago, as well as twelve great-grandchildren: Maxwell, William, Samuel, Charlotte, Colgan, Calliope, and Ophelia Thompson; Cameron and Owen Brogan; and Aubrey, Grayson, and Wyatt Holzrichter. She also leaves two sisters in law, Jean Hinton and Joan Coon of Champaign as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Caroline was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and sister, Kathryn Sims Martin. Caroline was raised in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area and moved to Oakland upon the death of her father when she was a senior in high school. She graduated from Oakland Township High School (Class of 1948) where she met Max. Caroline went on to become a registered nurse, graduating from the Milwaukee Hospital School of Nursing. She pursued a career in nursing at Carle Hospital and Charleston Community Hospital. Caroline was one of the Oakland area nurses who gave immunizations to school children, and many of today’s middle aged adults remember her best for that. Caroline was Max’s partner in their farming operation for over 50 years, and later in life the two of them purchased the Rolla Foley home on the Oakland square, restored it and opened The Inn on The Square bed and breakfast and Windowpanes Tea Room which they owned and operated from 1985 to 1992. She was an active member of the Oakland United Methodist Church, Landmarks, and an avid genealogist who wrote the column “Looking for Grandpa” for the Oakland-Ledger Messenger. First and foremost, Caroline was a devoted farm wife and mother to her four children. She was noted for her quick wit, medical knowledge, and deep faith. For the past two years Caroline resided at The Villas of Holly Brook in Charleston. The family would like to thank the staff of Villas, Hickory Point Christian Village in Forsyth, and the staff at Odd Fellows Home in Mattoon and Dr. Arun Bajaj for the excellent and compassionate care she received these past months. The family suggests memorials to Landmarks Inc., Oakland IL or the Oakland United Methodist Church.
