Dr. James L.
July 5, 1919 - June 15, 2007

James Leo Coffey was born July 5, 1919 in Wellman, Iowa the son of Elmer and Lola (Oldaker) Coffey. He was the Valedictorian Graduate of the Wellman High School class of 1937. He graduated Cum Laude from the University of Iowa in 1942, where he was an elected member of the Phi Beta Kappa academic fraternity. On June 18, 1944, Doc was united in marriage to Eleanore Smith in Iowa City. He spent two years in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. Doc's career began in the Veteran's Administration Hospital in Lincoln, Nebraska. He then served a residency in pediatrics at St. Louis Children's Hospital, and an advanced residency in pediatrics at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. In 1951, Doc began his first general practice in Fairfax, Missouri before moving to Emmetsburg to practice in 1955.
Doc was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church. He served on many boards throughout his career including: the Iowa Board of Medical Licensure (6 years), Emmetsburg Community School Board, Iowa Lakes Community College Board, and the Five Island Lake Restoration Board. He was an elected member of the American College of Cardiology, a lifetime member of the American Academy of Family Practice and a charter member of the American Board of Family Practice. He was the founding member of "Heart House" in Bethesda, Maryland, a center for post graduate conferences on cardiac disease. Doc also served as co-chairman of the Wellness Center Capital Campaign in 1994.
In 1968, Doc was recognized as "Citizen of the Year," and in 1979, he was named in the first edition "The Best Doctors in America" by Reveal Publications. Doc was also acknowledged in many other ways, including: Grand Marshall of the St. Patrick's Day Parade (1991 and 2002), Charles Hughes Citizen of the Year (1993), Honorary Fireman by the Emmetsburg Fire Department (1996), named a Friend of Conservation by the Soil Conservation Commission (1996) and Rotary Business and Industry Award of Merit Recipient (May 29, 2007).
Doc retired for the first time in 1985, but he returned 12 more times from retirement as an emergency room doctor serving Mason City, Fort Dodge, Des Moines and Emmetsburg. During his retirement, he was very active in the community and especially with the restoration of Five Island Lake. His leadership and insight was instrumental in developing this vital asset to our community. Doc put his knowledge and talent to print in 2003, and he wrote a book, "Saving the Glacier's Creation,"
On Friday, June 15, 2007, Dr. James Coffey passed away at the Palo Alto County Hospital in Emmetsburg. He was 87.
Left to cherish his memory is his wife, Eleanore of Emmetsburg; three children: Steven Coffey (Nancy) of Sterling, Virginia, Maggie Coffey of Emmetsburg and John Coffey (Jan) of Faribault, MN; a sister, Diana Halda of Washington, Iowa; grandchildren: Kimberly Coffey, Kevin Coffey (Elsa), Shaun Coffey, Tim Eng (Laura), Cindy (David Hoshaw); and two great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers: Max, Hubert and Francis; four sisters: Marsha Morgan, Kathleen Morrison, Helen Grass and Jean Grey.

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