Rick Coleman

Rick Coleman of Waukesha, Wisconsin, passed away at home on January 7, 2022 at the age of 70.

Rick was a devoted family man. He is survived by his wife, Mary (nee Leonardi); his daughter, Alaine; his mother, Beverly (nee Patton) his sister, Patricia Mellen (nee Coleman) and mother-in-law, Vira Leonardi (nee Garvey).

He is also survived by his cousins, Jerry Coleman (Kim) of Battle Creek, Michigan, and Randy Coleman (Lisa Lindeman ) of Juneau, Alaska; his niece, Candy Coleman (Chad Berdahl) of Big Lake, Minnesota; his nephew, John Coleman (Shelly Galles) of Allen, Virginia; numerous brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, dear friends and colleagues.

Rick was born in Battle Creek, Michigan, and attended school there through his sophomore year at Central High School. He graduated from Menominee High School in Menominee, Michigan. He attended Northern Michigan University until he joined the US Navy during the Vietnam War. He served predominantly in the Mediterranean as a Boiler Tech on a Destroyer.

Following his service, Rick moved next door to Mary Leonardi in Lansing, Michigan. They started dating and were married on October 1, 1977. Throughout their forty-four years together, they lived in Michigan, Maine, North Carolina, Illinois and Wisconsin. Rick attended the University of Michigan and graduated in June, 1983 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. They welcomed their pride and joy, their daughter, Alaine, in 1991.

Rick was an engineer by trade. He worked in the HVAC industry and also started his own companies; Key Dental Supply and Fudge-a-Rific, a confectionary company. Rick loved working on machines, from his first Triumph motorcycle to his current collection of vehicles. Rick also loved the Green Bay Packers, golfing, fishing and especially his 23-year-old cat, Sammie, who resided with his mother. Rick's first question on his nightly cell phone call to his mother was always, "How is my bag of bones?" He also loved talking with neighbors, supporting local high school basketball, his biannual outings with his buddies, golfing, fishing, camping and watching old westerns on TV. He kept up with current events and financial news and often cut out articles he felt would interest a friend or relative and sent it to them via snail mail.

He was preceded in death by his father, Donald Coleman in 1992, and by his brother, William Coleman in May 2021.

A joint graveside memorial service will be held for Rick and Bill 11:00 a.m. Friday, July 8, 2022 at Memorial Park Cemetery, 2435 W. Territorial Road, Battle Creek, MI 49015. The family is hosting a luncheon after the memorial service at the home of Kim and Jerry Coleman, 280 Borden Drive, Battle Creek, MI 49017.

Memorial contributions to the Wounded Warriors Project are appreciated. Local arrangements are by Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care. Personal messages for the family may be placed here in the Memory Book at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.