Obituary for William "Bill" Coleman

**LOCATION: Lincoln Gymnasium Ferry Street Entrance start time 1:00pm** Bill Coleman, beloved husband, father, teacher, and coach, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, at Bluffview Memory Care Facility. Bill was born on September 7, 1949, in Shelby, Mississippi, to William and Amanda (Jenkins) Coleman. At the age of four years old, Bill moved with his grandmother to join his parents in Indianapolis, Indiana. He grew up with his siblings, Sebell (Tony) Minney, Charles, and Geneva.

High School is where his love of football and athletics began. Bill spent four years attending Shortridge High School, where he excelled in football, wrestling, and track. In fact, he placed number two in the state of Indiana for wrestling in 1968 In high school he went by the nickname “Wild Bill”. He received five college offers, two in Indiana and three out of state. Four offers were for football and one was for wrestling.

After graduation from high school, Bill attended Grand Rapids Junior College, in Grands Rapids Michigan. He won Little All-American honors in 1970 as an offensive tackle and defensive end. It was there he earned the nickname “Choo Choo”. He would tell you it was because of his breathing when he ran down the field. One has to wonder…maybe it was because it felt like a locomotive had run through you if you were his tackle. In 1971, Bill transferred to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (UW-L), where he became a sensation on and off the football field. At UW-L, Bill earned several honors including Player of the Month, All Conference, All District, and Captain. It was also in the fall of 1971 that he met Sarah Smith, who would later become his wife. Despite many obstacles, their courtship would last for 52 years.

Bill pursued his passion for football, playing for the Madison Mustangs, a semi-pro team. He excelled as a linebacker and helped lead the Mustangs to the league championship in 1973 and 74’, receiving All-League honors both years. Despite receiving invitations from both the Detroit Lions and the Houston Oilers, a shoulder injury cut his tryouts short and he made the difficult decision to give up his dream of playing professional football.

Bill turned to teaching, completing his Bachelor's degree at UW-L and his Master's degree at the University of South Dakota. He took a one year teaching/Head Wrestling coach position at UW-L before being hired by the School District of La Crosse to teach Art and coach football. He spent eight years at Logan Middle School (LMS), where he coached 8th Grade Football and Boys Basketball and then moved to Lincoln Middle School. Here he remained for the last 17 years of his teaching career. At Lincoln Middle, he led the Chess Club, Students of Color (SOC) Club, and continued to coach 8th Grade Boys Basketball at LMS.

Bill married the love of his life, Sarah, on December 20, 1977, surprising her with a handmade ring. Together, they raised three children, Kalista (John) Richardson, Kailus Coleman, and foster daughter Nikki Hendricks. He also spent the first years of his retirement as full-time babysitter and proud grandparent to William, James, and Coleman Richardson.

In addition to his passion for football and teaching, Bill had many hobbies, including raising reptiles, painting, sculpture, building and racing model boats and airplanes, African drumming, karate, mentoring every young person he met, and long rides on his Honda Shadow Aero with Sarah in tow. He was a true "Renaissance Man," as dubbed by long-time UW-L Head Football coach Roger Herring.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, sister Hazel Coleman, grandmother Elnora "Big Mama" Jenkins, father-in-law and mother-in-law Woodrow and Violet Smith, and brother-in-law Ed Ristow. He leaves behind his wife, children, grandsons, siblings, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and countless friends, teammates and former students.

Bill will be remembered for being larger than life, having a kind heart, and his unwavering dedication to his family, students, and community. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

A celebration of life gathering will be held from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m., Saturday, April 1, 2023, at Lincoln Middle School in La Crosse. A select group of people will deliver memorial tributes at 2:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, memorials are preferred and will be designated to a memorial scholarship at UW-L and a park bench at Pettibone Park.