Richard G. Coxson

Thursday, August 25, 2016 3:48 pm

Richard G. Coxson, 88, died Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016, at Mayo Clinic Health System Hospital in Fairmont, Minn. A memorial service is at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 27, at his farm home, located at 4903 – 230th Avenue, rural Buffalo Center, IA, 50424, with Pastor Perry Aalgaard and Pastor Judy Wozniak officiating. Inurnment is at 12:30 p.m., Saturday, in Graceland Cemetery, Buffalo Center. There will also be a memorial service in California at a later date. In lieu of flowers his family suggest memorials be made to the American Cancer Society.

Richard Gilbert Coxson was born in Chicago, Ill. Jan. 25, 1928, to Emmett Messina and Alma (Emerson) Coxson. He was baptized at First Presbyterian Church, Arlington Heights, Ill. He graduated from Augustana Academy in Sioux Falls, S.D. in 1944. He graduated from Luther College in 1948 with degrees in business administration and math. He was united in marriage to the love of his life, Ferne Y. Ellingson, June 13, 1948, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Buffalo Center. They lived in Decorah, where Dick began work as an accountant. They then moved to Estherville, where Dick, having obtained his CPA license, opened his own practice. In 1955, they moved to California (Lakewood then Bellflower) where Dick went to work for Peat, Marwick, Mitchell and Co. After a number of years at PMM and Co. he had the desire to have his own accounting practice at started up a new CPA firm in Century City, Calif. later moving his offices to Cerritos, Calif. to be nearer to his home. During the time he had his own practice he and Ferne spent several very enjoyable years in Hawaii. In 1992 Dick retired from full time accounting practice and he and Ferne moved to rural Buffalo Center. They were blessed with eight children: Pam (David Fairley) Coxson, Jan (Bill) Lynch, Alan (Mary) Coxson, Philip Coxson, Debbie (Ted) Hack, Ruth (Rob) Menagh, Tom (Linda) Coxson, and Rob (Grace) Coxson; 13 grandchildren: Eugene, Theresa (Dan), Deborah (Aaron), Christine (Clint), Melissa (Baltimore), Allison (Tien), Lindsey, Shannon, Colleen, John, Laurie, Jennie, and Jessica; nine great-grandchildren: Jordan, Grant, Ethan, Kendall, Colby, Kaiden, Jaxson, Logan and Cora. Dick loved doing jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzles, Sudoku puzzles and cryptograms. He loved having family and friends around, he loved telling stories and he loved his 2 p.m. nap, which could be taken at any time during the day. He loved having decorations out for the holidays, especially the ones that had buttons that made them move and/or make noise. But, the thing Dick loved most was Ferne and he missed her terribly since her passing one year ago. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was a kind and loving and generous person who would always find the time to help wherever he saw a need.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife Ferne; his mother, Alma Coxson-Martin and father, Emmett Coxson and his stepfather, Tom Martin; his brother, Emmett Coxson; his daughter, Ruth Menagh; his great-grandson, Jordan Larson; his mother and father-in-law, Oscar and Emma Ellingson; his brother-in-law, Jim Goetz; and niece, Kristin Goetz.

He will be greatly missed by his family and friends but will forever remain within our hearts and memories.

You can contact the family with on-line condolences at mittelstadtfuneralhome.com.