Esther A. Coffelt

Esther Ann (Zimmerman) Coffelt, 82, passed peacefully in her home on September 21, 2025.

She was born October 11, 1942 to Christian and Florence (Busby) Zimmerman in Maryville. Esther graduated from Maryville High School in 1960 and attended Northwest Missouri State University for two years. She then worked for American Family Insurance in St. Joseph, MO. 

On February 17, 1968 she married Jerry Coffelt. Together, they farmed until 2008. Esther added to the family resources by selling seed corn, working part-time in the Nodaway County Recorder’s Office and later as a deputy in the Treasurer’s Office.

After retirement, she and Jerry travelled on numerous trips. Esther was a lifelong member of St. Gregory Barbarigo Parish where she served as organist and pianist most of her life and later as a member of the Arts & Environment Committee for 10 years. She and Judy Coffelt started the Girl Scout troop for Northeast Nodaway students in 1980. Esther was a member of the Gallagher Happy Homemaker Club, Nodaway County Democrat Club, Nodaway Chorale, and other service organizations. She was recognized as the Nodaway County Outstanding Farm Woman in 1984 and, in 2015, she and Jerry were inducted into the Nodaway County Agriculture Hall of Fame. 

Family and friends describe Esther as loyal, friendly, patient, and a recorder of memories.

Esther is preceded in death by sons Tony Coffelt and Travis Coffelt, her parents, three sisters, and six brothers. She is survived by her husband, Jerry, of the home; daughter Tina Coffelt of Ames, IA; daughter Tonya (David) Eickman of Kansas City, MO; four grandchildren, Brady, Rory, Henry, and Jacy Eickman; brothers Dan (Shirley) Zimmerman of Edmond, OK and Steve Zimmerman of Rolla, MO; sisters-in-law Shirley Coffelt of Maryville, MO and Lovella Schmitz of Kirksville, MO; many nieces and nephews.

 A visitation will be held at St. Gregory’s on Thursday September 25, 2025 from 5 t0 7 pm with a meal provided by St. Gregory’s in the parish hall. Services will be at St. Gregory’s on Friday September 26, 2025 at 10 am  with burial to follow at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Ravenwood, MO. A dinner will follow in the fellowship hall at the Ravenwood Christian Church, where Esther also attended with Jerry in recent years. 

The funeral is under the direction of Bram Funeral Home. Esther requested memorials for St. Gregory Barbarigo Church and School.