Ivan D. Coonrod

Ivan D. Coonrod was born on June 11, 1948, in Belleville, to Dean and Helen (Woodside) Coonrod, and passed away at the Republic Co. Hospital on January 31, 2023, at the age of 74 years, 7 months and 20 days.

Ivan grew up on a farm near Narka, Kansas, and went to school at Midway Country School, and then to Narka Grade School. When the Narka school closed, Ivan attended Munden High School where he met the love of his life, Elaine. They graduated in 1966. He went on to Nebraska Vocational Technical School in Milford, Nebraska, where he graduated with an Associate Degree in Drafting Technology.

Ivan was united in marriage to Elaine Splichal on October 26, 1968, at St. George Catholic Church in Munden. They lived for a period of time in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and then Lincoln, Nebraska. In Lincoln, Ivan worked for the State of Nebraska Natural Resources Commission, and in Cedar Rapids, he worked at Collins Radio Company, both places as a draftsman.

After being drafted into the Army in 1970, the couple moved to Belton, Texas, while he was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. After being honorably discharged from the Army in 1972, the couple moved back to Lincoln, Nebraska. In 1975, the couple moved to the Munden-Narka area, where they farmed and still reside. They are blessed with three children, Eric Matthew, Jason Dean and Amanda Marie.

Some of the changes Ivan found over the years of farming were no-till farming, GPS auto steer and the use of herbicides. Besides his fulltime farming operation, he drove the school bus for Belleville-Munden schools for 27 years. Ivan retired from farming in 2019, but he remained active and involved in his farming operation after retirement. Ivan was also a 3^rd degree member of the Knights of Columbus, a member of St. George Catholic Church and the sexton for St. George Catholic Cemetery. He was also a member of the Hubbell American Legion.

Ivan loved being with his family; he enjoyed his granddaughters, Jordyn, Haley, Taylor, Peyton and Reygan. Some of his favorite activities with his granddaughters were driving the gator, playing cards and Dominos, and going to their various school activities, music programs and ball games. Ivan loved to watch NASCAR races on TV and had definite favorite drivers. He enjoyed classic cars, having a 1970 Chevelle completely restored in 2019. He and Elaine enjoyed taking trips, most of them bus trips with their friends Debbie and Gary. Any time he was sitting down in his easy chair, he was working on Sudoku puzzles, and he enjoyed putting jigsaw puzzles together. Before and after retirement, he enjoyed meeting friends for “coffee.”

He is preceded in death by his parents Dean and Helen, parents-in-law George and Blanche Splichal, and brother-in-law John Robson.

He will be forever remembered by his wife of 54 years Elaine, son Eric and his wife Steph of Ellsworth, Kansas, son Jason and his wife Dawn of Liberty, Missouri, daughter Amanda of Lawrence, Kansas, and granddaughters Jordyn, Haley, Taylor, Peyton and Reygan. Ivan is also survived by his brother Lynn Coonrod and his wife Elaine of Winner, South Dakota; brother Tim Coonrod and his wife Annette of Belleville, Kansas; brother-in-law Edwin Splichal and his wife Karen of Belleville, Kansas; sister-in-law Loretta Robson of Baldwin City, Kansas; many nieces, nephews, neighbors and friends.

The Coonrod family wishes to thank the Republic County Hospital staff, nurses, housekeeping personnel, dietary department and rehab department for all the support and wonderful care that Ivan received during his hospitalizations.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, February 4, 2023, at 10:00 a.m., at St. George Catholic Church in Munden, with Fr. Henry Baxa and Fr. David Metz officiating. Burial with US Military Honors will follow at St. George Catholic Cemetery, rural Munden.

Visitation will be Friday, February 3^rd, from 1pm – 8pm, at Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home. Rosary/Vigil Services will be Friday evening at 6pm at the funeral home, and the family will greet friends following the Rosary.

Memorials are requested to the St. George Catholic Cemetery, and may be sent in care of the funeral home.

Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home is assisting the Coonrod family with these arrangements, www.tibbettsfischerfuneralhome.com