Arlene E. Coats, age 92, of Sac City passed away on Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at her home in Sac City.

Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, May 22nd at the United Methodist Church in Sac City with Pastor Vicki Fisher officiating. Burial will be at the Nemaha Cemetery under the direction of the Farber & Otteman Funeral Home. There will be no visitation.

Arlene Elizabeth Hicks was born on April 8, 1916, in Nemaha, Iowa, the daughter of Charles and Edna (Mooney) Hicks. She graduated from Nemaha High School and went to Buena Vista College for two years. Arlene taught country school for a couple of years before returning to Buena Vista for her third year of college. She taught second graders at Castana, Iowa, and Japanese students at the relocation center in Amache, Colorado.

On October 17, 1944, Arlene joined the U.S. Army, serving her country as a WAC. Arlene was awarded the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Army Occupation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and Meritorious Service Unit Plaque on completion of her duties on May 26, 1947. Almost two years of her service was in Augsburg, Germany as a member of the 7708th War Crimes Group.

In October, 1948, Arlene was united in marriage to Raymond Edward Coats at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. To this union three children were born: James, Jean and Joan. Arlene stayed home to care for her children until they grew up. She was a loving and caring wife and mother, involved with her children’s activities as a Cub Scout Leader and Campfire Leader. She also taught Sunday school at the United Methodist Church where she was a member for many years. She was quite a seamstress, sewing many of her children’s clothes, and loved quilting. She enjoyed reading and working in her flower garden.

Survivors include her son, James Coats of Sac City; two daughters: Jean Coats of Sac City and Joan Pollock and husband Tom of Cedar Rapids; and a grandson, Joel Coats of Sac City. Other survivors include her brother Russell Hicks and wife Lona of Sac City; sister Kathryn Parks of Early; sisters-in-law: Kathryn Leonard and Margaret Coats both of Sac City; and many extended family members.

Arlene was preceded in death by her parents; husband Raymond on June 21, 1992, and brother Theodore “Milt” Hicks.