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Melvin E. "Mel" Coobs

1925 - 2004

A memorial service for Melvin E. "Mel" Coobs, 79, of Boise, Idaho, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 20, at the Metcalf and Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Grand Rapids, Mich. Born Jan. 3, 1925, in Klemme, Iowa , the son of Benn J. and Leafy D. (nee Wilson) Coobs, he died Sunday, Feb. 29, 2004, in a Boise hospital. Inurnment will take place in Cascade Cemetery in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Mr. Coobs attended the University of Iowa, receiving a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. He married Katharine E. Gow on May 10, 1979 in Grand Rapids. Mel lived in Illinois, Michigan and Idaho. He worked for Johnson Controls, Inc., as a branch manager, retiring in 1986. Mel enjoyed golfing, hunting, fishing, opera, and reading. He was a Boy Scout leader when his children were young and he especially liked being active in community service later in his life. Mel was a member of the Boise Citizens Police Academy, Crane Creek Country Club and ASHRAE. He was also a member of the Electrical Engineering Honorary Eta Kappa Nu and Engineering Honorary Tau Beta Pi fraternities. He was a an Army veteran in WWII (96th Infantry Division) serving in the South Pacific.

Mel is survived by his wife, Katharine E. Coobs of Boise; his sister, Peggy Clark of Des Moines, Iowa; children, David Coobs of Canton, Ga., Doug Coobs of Clintonville, Wis., and Patti Pfeffer of Modesto, Calif.; grandchildren, Benjamin and Rebecca Coobs, Terrisa and Jason Coobs, and Matthew, Michael and Julia Pfeffer; and Katharine's children, Dr. William Gow of Manhattan Beach, Calif., Keith Gow of Fort Collins, Colo., and Douglas Gow of Visalia, Calif.; and a grandson, Trevor Gow.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Dorothy W. Coobs, in 1977.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Boise Citizens Police Academy, P.O. Box 6653, Boise, ID 83707. Arrangements were made by Alden- Waggoner Funeral Chapel, Boise, Idaho. Memorials may be made to the Boise Citizens Police Academy, P.O. Box 6653, Boise, ID 83707.

source: Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL), 6 Mar 2004

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