George Robert "Bob" Coughlin

A funeral Mass for George Robert ??Bob?i�� Coughlin, 82, of Logansport will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday at All Saints Catholic Church, Logansport.

Bob Coughlin passed away on Wednesday, January 9, 2008 at 11:35 a.m. in Logansport Memorial Hospital.

Bob was born on November 14, 1925 in Detroit, Michigan to the late Cleo Frances (Gibson) and George Dewey Coughlin. On August 15, 1964, he married Maxine Louise (Petrie) Kistler Coughlin, she survives.

Bob attended Logansport High School until his junior year (1943) when he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps during WWII. As a new G.I. he trained in Gulfport, MS., and St. Louis, Missouri, he then attended gunnery school in Las Vegas, NV. Following his training, he was assigned to a 10-man crew on a B-17 ?? his dream position. He served in the 749th Bomb Squadron, 457th Bomb Group, stationed in England. As a ball turret gunner, he completed 24 missions against the Germans riding in a Plexiglas and metal sphere in the belly of a B-17. He was honorably discharged on December 20, 1945 from Ft. Patterson Field in Ohio as a staff sergeant. He was honored to have his war history published in the Pharos Tribune in honor of Memorial Day in 2006.

Following his time in the service, Bob worked for 36 years on the railroad. For a short time he worked with the Grand Trunk in Detroit and then he worked as a fireman with the Pennsylvania Railroad (later the Penn-Central) in Logansport. He spent the majority of his career as an engineer and retired on February 20, 1983.

He enjoyed his association and many interactions as a member of the Veterans of Foreign War Post 3790. His visits to socialize at the VFW were important to Bob even as his health deteriorated. Bob was also a member of All Saints Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus.

Bob is survived by his sister Margaret Ann Willison of Logansport, and sister-in-law Imogene and husband Frank LaDonne of Walton.   His children are Daniel R. Coughlin and wife Diane of Fort Wayne, Timothy E. Coughlin and wife Pam of Chesterton, Mary Kathryn Laskody of Norcross, Georgia, and Patricia Ann Evans of Deer Creek; and two step-sons Don Kistler and wife Connie of Kokomo, and Ron Kistler and wife Kerry of Logansport.   His parents and brother-in-law Paul Willison preceded him in death.   He is also survived by grandchildren Carrie Richards and husband Brian, Emily Coughlin, and Hillary Coughlin, all of Fort Wayne; Lindsay Laskody, Indian Rocks Beach, Florida; Kira Evans, Deer Creek; Scott Kistler and wife Courtney, Indianapolis; Jessica Weathington and husband Cameron, Blanchard, Oklahoma; and Tatum Egan and husband Joe, Moore, Oklahoma. He has three great grandchildren.

Father Mike McKinney will officiate at the funeral Mass. Burial with full military rites will be conducted at Mount Hope Cemetery, Logansport.

Friends may call from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, January 13 at Marocco Funeral Chapel, 119 E. Market St., Logansport where there will be a Scripture service at 5:00 p.m.

The family invites friends to a wake celebrating Bobchr(39)s life at the Veterans of Foreign War, 1023 Erie Avenue on Saturday, January 12 at 6:30 pm.

While flowers are welcome, contributions in Bobchr(39)s memory may be made to the All Saints Catholic School.

Online Condolences may be made to the Coughlin Family at www.maroccofc.com.