Coburn Henningsen

Coburn Henningsen, middle child and only son of Darus and Lily Colson Henningsen, was born at Otego, Kansas on June 28th, 1924. He had an older sister Marjorie, and would then have a younger sister, Dona.

Coburn grew up on a farm northwest of Ionia, Kansas, and loved the farm life. He attended grade school through high school at Ionia. He played some football and basketball while still helping on the farm. He also found time to help others with their farming. One job helping with harvest down by Tipton almost did him in. Late one evening after that job finished, he decided to drive his Model A Ford on back to Ionia. He got lost in the dark, and wrecked the car. He walked to a farm house for help with the car, and a gash on his head. A country doctor sewed him up and called the Sheriff. It seems the Bank of Portis had been robbed that afternoon, and one of the robbers might have been wounded. After the Sheriff saw the beat-up old Model A, he decided this wasn't a bank robber's car!

Coburn entered the Army in 1944 and served with the 3rd Army, 811th Tank Destroyers, through France and Germany. After coming back to Fort Knox, Kentucky he became the Company Clerk and promoted to Corporal because he admitted that he knew how to type.
He liked to joke that he even typed up his own Discharge papers.

On July 28, 1946 Coburn married Virginia Vestal at Beloit. They had met on a blind date during the summer before he went into the Army. They moved to the family farm, and over the next 8 years they farmed and had two children-Jane and Vail. Coburn also worked part-time for the Jewell County REA while still on the farm.

In 1954 the farm was sold and Coburn, Virginia, and the children moved into Beloit, Kansas. After a short stint at Beloit Motor Company, he went to work for the City of Beloit Light and Water Department. Over 32 years he went from lineman to foreman, to City Inspector. For several years he also taught night classes for the Vo-Tech electricity department.

He was a horse lover, and like his father and grandfather, he broke and trained several horses through the years on the family farm. He also worked odd jobs on the farm, and in town; some were shearing sheep with his father, electrical wiring, carpentry and painting, and finally wood crafts.

Through the years, Coburn was active in the Beloit Veterans of Foreign Wars, serving in the color guard for many years, many parades, football games, and funeral services. He also served as the Post Commander. He was a Life Member of the VFW and also the American Legion at Beloit, and a member of the Sons of American Legion at McPherson. He was also a member of First Christian Church, Beloit.

Coburn was proud of his family. He was proud of his children, his granddaughters, and his great grandchildren. He was shocked and honored to have a great-great grandson named after him. He couldn't believe that would ever happen.

He passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 29th, 2015 at Hilltop Lodge. He was preceded in death by his parents, his loving wife Virginia Rose, his sister Margery Joy and husband James Craig, sister Dona Dean and husband Robert Ost, and a granddaughter Gabrielle Marie St. John.

He is survived by his daughter Jane Marie St. John and husband Donald of Salina, son Vail D. Henningsen and wife Margaret A. of McPherson; granddaughters Maria Ann Goodall of Salina, Vanessa Dawn and husband Terry Lee Fleetwood of Goddard, KS; 6 great grandchildren: Christopher Goodall and Courtney and Steven Moyer of Salina, Skylar, Hunter, and Brooklyn Fleetwood of Florida, and Coburn Lee Fleetwood of Goddard, KS, and a brother-in-law Don Beam of Mankato. He is also survived by a special dance partner Viola Paulsen of Stockton and her son Richard and Annette and their family of Woodston, KS.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 AM Monday, November 2 at the McDonald Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 1-8 PM Sunday at the Funeral Home. Memorials may be given to Solomon Valley Hospice or Hilltop Lodge.