Joseph E. Coons

Joseph Edward Coons, age 95, of Upper Sandusky and formerly of Nevada, passed away on Friday, Feb. 4, 2011 at 10:30pm at Wyandot Memorial Hospital in Upper Sandusky. 2011.

He was born in Nevada, Ohio on Dec. 17, 1915, and was the son of Charles Maron Coons and Edith Lucinda (Kuenzli) Coons.

He is survived by his wife, Flora Bell Brown Rothlisberger Coons. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Lillian Madge Golling and his second wife, Mary Lou Fetters and, his only sister, Mary Elizabeth Kleckner, Redlands, Ca.

Mr. Coons had six children: Natalie Jo (Don) Dannenhauer, Nevada, OH: Robert Michael (Sharon) Coons, Apex, NC.; Sarah Louise Jenney (David) Rice, Bucyrus, OH; Charles William (Kathy) Coons, Harpster, OH; Wendy Elizabeth (Bret) Rochotte, New Bremen, OH; Mark Edward (Deb) Coons, St. Charles, MO., Dorothy Ann (Tom) Newell, Upper Sandusky, Barbara Lee Green (deceased) & Michael Ray Rothlisberger, Upper Sandusky; 24 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great grandchildren.

He was the third generation proprietor of Coons Candy & Hardware in Nevada, Ohio and saw it grow from its beginnings as an ice cream store into a tire and general store offering horse and buggy tack, work clothing, boots and shoes, automotive supplies, appliances, TVs & radios and a broad assortment of hardware and household items. At one time in the 1930's & 40's, the store included a restaurant. He was a pilot and he and his father were early Piper Airplane dealers. They also began Coons Candies, a current local retail and national confectionary mail-order company.

He was a member of Union United Methodist Church where he taught adult Sunday School in years past. A life-long avid reader and golfer, he also enjoyed fishing, tennis & skiing, woodworking, crossword puzzles and mowing the yard. He was a charter member of the Nevada Lions Club and served as Grand Marshal in Nevada's Sesquicentennial.

A private family memorial service will be held and burial will be in Nevada Cemetery. There will be no visitation.


Memorials may be made to the Fairhaven Community or Union Salem United Methodist Church and can be sent to Lucas-Batton Funeral Home, 476 S. Sandusky Ave., Upper Sandusky, Ohio 43351. Online condolences may be sent to www.lucasbatton.com