Donald Lewis Coleman

Donald L. Coleman passed away at his Skyland Estates home on March 23rd.

He was born to the late Clarence C. Coleman and Jeanne Howell Coleman on September 17, 1947 in Chicago, Illinois. Don graduated from Downers Grove Illinois High School in 1965 and from the University of Illinois with honors in 1976 with a B.A in Aviation Technology and a B.S. in Vocational Education. Don also held a commercial multi-engine pilot license and an Airframe and Powerplant aircraft mechanic license. He worked in Fairbanks, Alaska for a while as an airplane mechanic.

He taught metals shop at Maine West High School in Des Plaines, IL in 1976. Don worked for several years as an industrial ironworker in the Chicago area. He owned his own construction company (Building Trades) and was known for his skills as a fine craftsman in a wide diversity of building specialties. Don had done remodel work on Frank Lloyd Wright houses in Oak Park Il before moving to NM in the spring of 1989. He continued in the construction business in and around Albuquerque until his retirement in 2009. Don loved fast cars, motorcycles, and dancing when he was younger and more recently developed a passion for reading and following international politics and news. He had traveled to Central America, Mexico, Cuba, Europe, Canada and across much of the US. Always quick of wit, with a broad streak of humor running through his life, Don was also a wise and compassionate confidant to family and friends. He was loved and will be missed by many.

His son, David C. Wood, of Whiteland Indiana, his brother Ross and Ross’ wife Barbara Coleman of Albuquerque, and their three children Madeleine Turnbull and Matthew and Mia Coleman survive Don.