Delores was born December 26, 1931, in Beatrice, Nebraska and adopted and lovingly raised by Alfred and Gertrude (Huls) Alberts in Filley, Nebraska. Delores was lively and welcoming with bright blue eyes and a wonderful smile. As a young woman, she enjoyed sports and extracurricular activities and participated in her high school softball team even nicknamed “Babe” for all her home run hits, volleyball team, drama club, singing groups, drummer girl in the band, and sports editor of the yearbook. Her children recall her as a supermom whose kitchen table welcomed all guests. She was an excellent seamstress and gardener and her grandchildren looked forward to her homemade jellies and rhubarb sauce in the summertime.
Gilbert E. Coatman, beloved husband of Delores (Alberts) for 70 years, passed away on January 31, 2022. Born to Sterling and Eleanor Coatman on May 24, 1931, in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Gilbert served his country as a National Guardsman for 32 years retiring in 1988 as a CW4. He is a recipient of The Army Commendation Medal for his service during Desert Shield/Desert Storm.
He was an outstanding athlete and student participating in football, basketball, and track as well as a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society at Fairbury Junior College. He went on to graduate from the University of Nebraska with a degree in Economics.
In his spare time, Gilbert could be found fishing, golfing, tending to his garden, tinkering with computers, spending time with family, and enjoying his grandchildren.
Delores and Gilbert are survived by their daughters Pam (Stan) Hegener and Peggy (Ron) Gentzler; son Kim Coatman; grandchildren Tricia Carr, Spence Hegener, Keri Mitchell, Katherine Brown; great-grandchildren Peyton Carr, Caleb Carr, Grace Hegener, Grant Hegener, McCoy Mitchell, Walker Hancock, Cord Brown, Ava Karis Brown, and Briley Brown. Foster grandson Adrian Stewart and family and Gilbert’s brothers Larry Coatman and Ed Coatman; and his sisters Colleen Williams and Suzanne Markham.
Preceded in death; by their parents Henry Brandt, Carrie Smith Brandt, Alfred Alberts, Gertrude Huls Alberts, Sterling and Eleanor Coatman ; Delore’s stepmother Gertrude Fitzwater Alberts; her brothers Charles Hess, Harold Brandt, Henry Brandt, Roy Brandt, Marvin Brandt, Orville (Brandt) Stueck; her sister Mildred (Brandt) Langley Arnold; ; Gilbert’s sisters Peggy Coatman and Evaline Halvorsen; his brothers Simon Lee Coatman, and their great-grandson Thomas Gerald Mitchell.
Celebration of Life for both Gilbert and Delores will be held on Saturday, May 28, 2022, at 10:30AM at the American Lutheran Church, 4200 Vine Street, Lincoln, NE 68503. Visitation with family will be held on Friday, May 27, 2022, from 5:00-7:00 p.m., at Roper and Sons Midtown Chapel, 4300 ‘O’ Street, Lincoln (10). Burial at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery. Memorials to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
No Viewing/Cremation
Delores Bernice Brandt Alberts Coatman
Gilbert E. Coatman