Gregory B. Coats
Gregory B. “Greg” Coats, age 77, of rural Neshkoro, formerly Winneconne, passed away on Friday, December 6, 2024, after a courageous battle with cancer at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton.
He was born December 13, 1946, in Stevens Point, WI, the son of Cecil Sr. and Marie Mansavage Coats. His family relocated to Milwaukee where he graduated from Milwaukee Boys Tech High School. On December 7, 2002, he was united in marriage to Suzanne “Sue” Bestor Wagner at Emmanuel United Church of Christ in Oshkosh.
Greg proudly worked for Pierce Manufacturing in Appleton as a welder building those beautiful fire trucks. He continued friendships with many of his coworkers after retiring in 2013. Greg also worked a part-time delivery route for the Berlin Journal for several years after retiring from Pierce. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, always happy to supply plenty of venison and blue gills for family gatherings. He never missed an opening day of gun deer hunting since he was just a kid, and through sheer determination and help from his hunting buddy, Randy Duley, he was able to have his final hunt opening day this year.
Greg was a lifetime member of the NRA and Ducks Unlimited. He shot trap and sporting clays in several leagues over the years. He volunteered for several Ducks Unlimited events teaching youth gun safety.
He is survived by and will be dearly missed by his wife, Sue; son, Jason Coats; brother, Cecil Coats Jr.; mother-in-law, Marian Bestor; brothers- and sisters-in-law, John (Ellen) Bestor, Joanne (Randy) Duley, Barbara (Tyler) Gonyo and Todd (Jill) Bestor; many beloved nieces and nephews; great-nieces and nephews; cousins; other family members; and dear friends, Jim, Gary and Shawn. He is also missed by his fur babies, Coco, Tippy and Callie. Greg was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Doris Modl and Clara Opperman; and his father-in-law, Don Bestor.
Special thanks to Dr. Joyce Phillip and the Oncology team and nurses at ThedaCare Oncology in Oshkosh for being angels to him and so many others. Thank you also to ThedaCare-Berlin, Neenah and Appleton for their wonderful care. Cremation has taken place and at his request, his ashes will be spread by his tree stand overlooking his beloved hunting land. Family and friends will gather at a later date for a Celebration of Life to honor him. Arrangements have been entrusted to Barbola Funeral Chapel in Berlin. Anyone wishing to send a sympathy card to the family, please mail to Gregory Coats, c/o Barbola Funeral Chapel, PO Box 201, Berlin, WI 54923.
Online condolences may be submitted and sent using the form below. You may also email condolences to the family through "barbolafc@yahoo.com". All condolences are private and sent only to the family.