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Donald Coonrod Obituary

REV. DON COONROD
May 21, 1929 ~ April 9, 2011

Rev. Don Coonrod of Vancouver, WA, peacefully passed away to be with his Lord in heaven on April 9, 2011, in his home with his loving wife and three daughters by his side. He was raised in Camas and Vancouver, WA, where he lived all his life.
It was in Washougal, WA, 1946 that he met and married Donna McCormick. They were married for 65 years and raised 5 children.
An ordained minister in the Church of the Nazarene, Don built two churches in the Vancouver area. He was appointed to his first church in 1952 and within 5 years, built Central Church of the Nazarene on Mill Plain Blvd. where he ministered for 25 years.
He evangelized for many years with his singing Evangelist mother, Goldie Coonrod. In 1981, with the help of many, Don built Prairie Community Church. 19 years later he retired. A few years later Prairie merged with Living Hope Church and the building was re-named to Living Hope Church and is thriving under the ministry of John Bishop.
He was a loving father and his family fondly remembers many camping, fishing and hunting trips, from Yellow Stone to the back yard.
He loved sports, basketball, football and hobbies including coin collecting, antique cars, and most of all laughing and spending time with many lifelong friends.
Survivors include his wife, Donna; three daughters, Cheryl, Lynn and Kim; his brother, Jack Coonrod and his wife, Dawn. Luann Coonrod; four grandchildren, Joel and Ben Coonrod and Kamarn and Khorum Siddiqui; two great-grandchildren, Mettea and Adalynn Coonrod; along with numerous cousin, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Jack and Goldie Coonrod; and two sons, Rev. Mike Coonrod and Bob Coonrod.
A memorial service will be held Sat., April 16th, 1:00, at Living Hope Church, 10702 NE 117th Ave., Vancouver, WA 98662.
Please sign Don's guest book at: www.columbian.com/obits.

Published by The Columbian on Apr. 12, 2011.
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Memories and Condolences
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12 years... I have used, shared, and loved your Gospel teaching Don. It has been 60 years I have appreciated your message. Thank you. God bless & protect your family.

Jessica Perry- Robison

April 6, 2023

Donna - At our men's breakfast Sat April 30th I learned of Don's passing. I was shocked. I am so sorry for your loss. Even though Mari and I have not seen you and Don for several years, we drove by your home going from Camas to Vancouver on LE Lake Shore. I remember all the "game warden" jokes that Don would share every time we visited. I do remember Don coming to my retirement from WA. ST. Dept of Fish and Wildlife in Feb. 1998 and sure enough he had his jokes for all to enjoy. I remember the rides Don took with me on patrol especially for deer poaching at night. Please give us a call 360-573-0235 and give us a chance to visit. God bless.

Bob Zak

May 5, 2011

Dear Donna and family,

The contribution you made to Kitty's life from the time of her early teens until we were married, with Don officiating at our wedding on December 19, 1958, was indeed a blessing from God.

We send our love, appreciation and prayers.

Al & Kitty Jones

April 29, 2011

Donna and family; My parents, Rev. Ray and Hazel Friberg, loved and appreciated you and Don and spoke of you often. God bless you in this time of grief. Chaplain Merv Friberg

Merv Friberg

April 25, 2011

Dear Donna and family, sorry hear of Don's passing. Please know you have my deepest sympathies. Hopefully, in time the many memories you shared with Don as a family will provide you great comfort. Grateful am I for my special memories of Don and all of you. Love, Susan Krueger Gaede

Susan Krueger Gaede

April 25, 2011

Connie and Kim
I was so sorry to read of your loss. My prayers are with you

Nola Koch

April 19, 2011

Thank you Ben for your post. That was very nice. Hope you are doing well.

Alice Cox

April 19, 2011

Wow I so wish we could of been there to see all of you! Hard to believe Don was 81. Our prayers go out to Donna and family!

Steve and Lynn Quist

April 18, 2011

I will miss my Grandpa a lot. He was a man who loved vintage cars, antique guns and old coins, but he also loved the Lord. I know that he is in a better place and singing praises to the Lord with my Dad, Uncle Bob, Great grandpa Jack and Great grandma Goldie. He will be missed much, Ben

Ben Coonrod

April 16, 2011

Am humbled when I think of Don and Donna's powerful Ministry over the years. Caused me to wonder how many years of Ministry would be in the combined years of all those Called out of Don's Ministry. My 40 years would be among those years. Only eternity will know the total when it all done and said. I can't imagine God allowing anyone but Himself to welcome Don to Heaven.

Art Fish

April 16, 2011

As a current member of Living Hope Church, I'd like to thank the Coonrod family for their legacy of faith. Through you God's Kingdom has grown mightily and will continue to expand for generations until we all meet together again. Linda and Tony Carlson

Linda/Tony Carlson

April 16, 2011

Don and I were in the 7th & 8th grade together. I remember many times giving him a candy bar as a token of our friendship. It must have worked because we remained friends all of these years. When the new home was built by his brother, Jack, I was asked to do the landscaping. I gladly did it.

Henry Townsend

April 15, 2011

Don was my "watch dog" when I was away. He always kept a watchful eye on my house. I remember the day someone left a junk heap in my driveway and then went over to Don's garage and helped himself to a better vehicle. Don was always caring and had a wonderful sense of humor. I will miss him very much. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to you Donna and your family.

Gene Coupe

April 15, 2011

Donna & Girls: You are in our thoughts and prayers in this time of great loss. The Coonrod family has impacted our lives across many years. Our memories of you all are very precious to us. Don was a very special person to each of us. Words fail to express our feelings. Many are the memories that are filled with tears and laughter (mostly laughter). It will only be a very brief time when we will be together again. May God's love and grace sustain you.
Paul, Martha, A.J. & Sonja Anderson

April 15, 2011

Donna, My Pastor is now where he promised I could some day spend for ever with him and the Lord. I continue to do what prepared me for. He taught me how to tie my tie and to clean my hands, then to smile at my mistakes.
I am a product of his ministry today as I continue to proclaim the love of God. Marlys and I will always remember the times we shared together. Love to you and the family. Don and Marlys.

Don &Marlys Bancel

April 15, 2011

I remember a very special day when I was 12 years old, how under the evangelistic ministry of Pastor Don Coonrod, one summer at a Church Camp up by Seattle, I felt the Holy Spirit so powerfully drawing me to give my life to Jesus Christ. Many of the kids, including myself, went forward to the altar to make that life changing decision. I will never forget how God used Pastor Don and how he preached with such passion during that week long summer camp back in the 1960's. I know there will be many people in heaven because of God using Pastor Don Coonrod through out the years, to get the message of salvation out. He was truly called by God to be a minister and I want to thank him one day in heaven for his obedience to that call. (Becky Ludahl Shefchek)

Becky Ludahl/Shefchek

April 15, 2011

It has been years since I was first babtised by Rev Coonrod. I moved to Michigan and started my own family.Only have good memories of that time of my life. May god bless you all.

Sharon Warren,Varvil

April 14, 2011

Dear Donna and Girls:
Ben and Joel will miss their Grandpa, but we are so happy they got to see him and enjoy his company this past summer. We are Ben and Joel's other Grandparents, and we send our thoughts and prayers. Bob and Carol Berg

Robert-Carol Berg

April 13, 2011

Don & his family have been part of my and my family's lives for many years and i'm filled with memories of those times.
My prayers are for Donna and girls at this time, but knowing God's healing power will provide. Love to you all.
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Don & Alyce Lutz

Don& Alyce Lutz

April 13, 2011

Donna, Lynn and family, I am saddened and shocked to hear of Don's passing. I want you all to know that the Coonrod family changed my life forever. Don always had the right things to say. He will be missed and I know we will be seeing him again some day. My prayers go out to your family.

Greg Evans

April 13, 2011

Our prayers and thoughts are with all of you. We are so glad that Ben was able to spend time with Don last summer, talking and watching cowboy movies. :) Ben really appreciated having time alone with Grandpa. God bless you and comfort you as you trust Him to reunite you all one happy day,
Diana and David Phillips, India

Diana and David Phillips

April 13, 2011

Lynn...sorry to hear about your father. Thinking of you. Missed you Margo's gathering.

April 12, 2011

Don and I served together on the Lacamas Shores HOA Board for many years. He used to joke with me that he had Eagle Eyes since his house was at the top of the hill and could see everything that happened below in the neighborhood. I will miss his fun spirit but I know God has a bigger mission for him.

Cindi Marrinan

April 12, 2011

We are presently traveling, but want to express our heartfelt condolences to the Coonrod family.

Shafi and Naseema Shafiuzzaman

Shafe and Naseema Shafiuzzaman

April 12, 2011

Dear aunt Donna and cousins Cheryl, Lynn and Kim.I am so sorry to here about uncle Don I will always miss him and the good times we all had together.God bless you all.

Rick Krueger

April 12, 2011

To Donna,Girls and family,

So sorry to hear about Don's passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you all at this sad time. He will be missed by many.

Love in our Lord

Dee Etta

April 12, 2011

I was sadden when I read today of Don's passing. He was such a help when I (we) needed it years ago. He always had a way of making his sermon involve my issues even if by accident..prayers to all of you

Rebecca Langfitt-Hassler

April 12, 2011

Dear Family & Friends in Christ:
I can hear Goldie playing the piano & singing as her beloved Don joins her, with Mike by her side. I was just looking at a picture of Don & Donna a few days ago, it was a Christmas card I received with their dog years ago. Thank you Don & Donna for helping save my soul as a teenager. I loved filling up our Sunday school bus from the Harney church to Central Nazarene. As an adult my children attended all of places Don preached. I learned to tithe as a 12 year old, and was Baptisted there with my dear friend Shelley 'Worden". The wonderful Sunday night services. Today, I plant seeds every day for God; beacause, of Don's work for the Lord. Don loved to sing, "He touched me... and oh the Joy that lengers still...". God bless and protect you during your loss. We know we will see Don again in the sweet by & by. Amen.

Jessica Perry- Robison

April 12, 2011

Love and prayers to Donna and girls. Sad days for you, but there is a future to look forward to, for all of us. Imagine Easter in heaven!! Loved Don, and love you all. Art and Janice Fish

April 12, 2011

Mr Coonrod caught Bob and I fibbing about where we had been. He looked at us and said "The good Lord said if your going to lie, you have to cross your fingers" he winked at me. Bob and I were 12 years old.

Dominic Salvato

April 12, 2011

Dear Coonrod Family, Please know that I was sorry to hear of Don's passing. I have so many memories of days gone by at Central Nazarene & then again at Prairie Community Church. My parents met & knew Don & Donna since 1952 in his first church downtown Vancouver. If they were with us they too would send their sympathy & love. My prayers are with your family.

Linda (Mackey) Jones

April 12, 2011

To Donna and girls so sorry to hear of Dons passing as he will be surely missed a whole bunch, sincerly Walt and Vera Bassett

April 12, 2011

I'm so sorry to hear of Don's passing. I reflect back on the fun times we shared. Don had a great ability to always make you feel welcomed in your home. I know he will be missed by many. Donna, it is my hope that you will be ok. I know the girls will be such comfort. I will be thinking you and your family.

Love, Bob Krueger

Robert Krueger

April 12, 2011

Dear Donna and Girls,
Gene and I give You all our Deepest Sympathy, We know that You are Praising the LORD because Rev.Don is walking with Him today as he did when he was on this earth. Love Gene & Corliss Westling

Corliss Westling

April 12, 2011

Robert Krueger

April 12, 2011

I remember Don as bringing humor and lightheartedness to our homeowner association board meetings and trying to “convert” me to classic cars from hotrods. To this end, he would bring me stacks of classic car magazines hoping I’d “see the light”. Then one day when working in the garage, I heard the unmistakable rumble of a hotrod and looked up to see Don with a sheepish grin driving up in a yellow hot rod of some vintage since forgotten. I walked over and congratulated him on his “conversion” to hot rods and we both had a good laugh about it! That’s what I will remember about Don…

Rob Bernardi

April 12, 2011

I will never forget Don Coonrod for all sorts of reasons...but two stand out. He would come visit my parents when I was a child and talk of motorcycles but always had a smile for me which taught me you could be a man of God and have fun too. Then when my father passed away many years later Don was the only minister of Dad's past that sent me a card and told me he was thinking of me...amazing. He is now having so much fun with the Lord. Blessings to the family as I so remember you all...Don, Donna and Goldie...

Ruth Zaske

April 12, 2011

To all the family. I'm sorry to hear of your loss but am rejoicing with you for where we know that he is. Oh the joys of the hope we have in Heaven through Jesus Christ our Lord. God bless all of you and comfort you in the ways that only HE can do. I'm praying for you. Love and blessings. I have MANY good memories of Pastor Don and the great messages he preached.

Alice Cox

April 12, 2011

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