Richard Charles Coleman, Sr.

Richard Charles Coleman, Sr., age 81, of 13375 Ontario Street, Meadville, died peacefully on Sunday, January 11, 2015 surrounded by his family at Meadville Medical Center due to complications from the flu.

Richard was born in Meadville, on October 5, 1933, son of the late Kenneth and Edna (Sorg) Coleman.

He married Tressa Nira Baumgardner on March 1, 1953. She preceded him in death in 2007.

Richard served in the U.S. Army in Korea from 1953-1955 and served in the Army Reserves from 1955 until 1961. He was employed at the former Talon, Inc. in Meadville, for over 40 years. He retired from Talon when the plant closed in 1994 and then worked at Penco Tool & Die for several years.

Richard (Papa) was a loving and devoted husband for over 50 years. He loved his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Richard was an avid hunter and fisherman. He loved going fishing with his family on Lake Erie and surrounding lakes. Papa enjoyed teaching his grandchildren and great-grandchildren how to fish. He also enjoyed going to garage sales and auctions with his best friend, Gary Main. He was a great example to his family and friends. Our “Gentle Giant” will be dearly missed by all that knew him.

Survivors include his four children, Sherry Shallenberger, Pam Kelyman and Richard Coleman, Jr. all of Meadville and Kim Pechin and her husband, Randy, of Cambridge Springs. Richard is further survived by eleven grandchildren: Jason Shallenberger and his wife, Sandy, of Pittsburgh, Amber Maurer and her husband Gerald of Bountiful, Utah, Moriah Stucki of Kaysville, Utah, Carrie Acker and her husband, Jeff of Conneaut Lake, Robert Hagmaier and his wife, Jennifer, of Pittsfield, MA, Michael Hagmaier and his wife, Bethany, of Dalton, Massachusetts, Jacob Hagmaier and his wife, Courtney, of Erie, Paul Kelyman, Jr. and his companion, Kim, of Washington, DC, Nicole Kelyman of Saegertown, Michael Coleman of Cochranton and Lance Coleman of Meadville; eleven great-grandchildren, Alex Shallenberger, Levi Acker, Sean Acker, Corbin Maurer, Talon Stucki, Lorelei, Charlie, Danielle and Aiden Hagmaier, Colton Kelyman and another great-grandchild due in June, seven step-grandchildren, Nicole, Tina, Matthew and Julie Garubba, Nicole, Richard and Noelle Pechin, and three step great-grandchildren, Victor, Vincent and Ryan.

Richard is also survived by his three sisters, Dorothy McCurdy, of San Diego, CA, Mary Minch and her husband, Edward, of Edinboro, and Marjorie Stainbrook of San Tan Valley, AZ, plus many nieces, nephews and cousins and his long-time friend, Gary Main.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth & Edna (Sorg) Coleman, his wife, Tressa, and his good friend, George Acker.

Family and friends are invited to call on Wednesday, January 14, 2015, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Stephen P. Mizner Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., 404, Chestnut St., Meadville, where the Funeral Service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, January 15, 2015 with Bishop William Stallard of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, presiding. Full Military Honors by VFW Post #2006 will follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to the American Heart Association, PO Box 15120, Chicago, IL 60693, or the American Cancer Society, 320 Bilmar Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15205-4620 or the National Kidney Foundation, 30 East 33rd St., New York, NY 10016.

Richard will be laid to rest next to his wife, Tressa, in Denny Cemetery, Hayfield Twp.

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