David Coon

David Ronald Coon, of Fort Myers, FL, passed away on July 7th, 2024. David was born on May 31st, 1939 to Clifford Fredrick Coon and Alice Adkins in Newberry, Michigan. David graduated from Holton High School in 1958. During high school years, he played varsity football, basketball, baseball, and track. In 2016, he was inducted into the Holton Hall of Fame for his time on the 1954 football team. After graduating from high school, he worked at Harrold’s meat market. David served in Vietnam with the United States Army from May 1967 to June 1968 while working for Teledyne Continental Motors as a Field Maintenance Representative with the 5th Maintenance Battalion. While serving in Vietnam, David traveled to supporting units, assisting mechanics and technicians on multifuel engines. He also spent much of his free time in Vietnam on numerous civic action projects. He was most proud of his work helping to build an orphanage in Qui Nhon. In 1971, David graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree from Grand Valley State College. While in college he worked at Meijer Thrifty Acres in the meat department. After graduating, David became the first-ever Grand Valley State College golf coach. David then went on to get his Master’s in Public Administration from Western Michigan University in 1977. Upon graduating, he worked at the Veteran’s Facility of Grand Rapids as a Personnel Director from 1977-1988. In 1989, David started working for the State of Michigan out of Lansing where he eventually became a Hearing Officer with the Department of Health. He worked for the state until his retirement in 1996. He moved to Florida in 1997 where he got his relator’s license and worked in real estate from 1998-2006. He eventually settled down in Fort Myers, Florida where he enjoyed retirement and spending time with his family. David was an avid lover of the outdoors. Some of his most fond memories were spent in the Upper Peninsula and Canada. He enjoyed going on backwoods trips with his buddies, skiing, canoeing, fishing, hunting, hiking, and camping. It was on one of these trips, that he met his wife, Fien, on the train in Canada. He also had a great passion for golfing and spent a lot of time playing with his friends and cousins. Since he was young, David also loved to travel. Some of his favorite trips included China, Thailand, Russia, much of Europe, Australia, Hawaii, Alaska, and most of the continental US. In his later years, he thoroughly enjoyed traveling with his family and taking yearly trips up to Michigan. Dave was a great guy inside and out. He will be remembered for his incredible stories and great sense of humor. He loved his wife, kids, family, friends, and pets very much. He enjoyed the company of everyone he was around and was a real people person. He left a lasting impact on many lives. David requested not to have a service and instead wanted everyone to remember the good times and memories made. We will miss him very much.