JACK DOYAN COTTERMAN

Jack Doyan Cotterman (94) of Belton, Missouri passed away Friday February 21, 2025 at home surrounded by his family.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, February 27, 2025, at the Belton Assembly of God Church 613 E North Ave, Belton, Missouri 64012. Funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. followed by the burial at the Belton Cemetery in Belton, Missouri with military Air Force honors.

He was born on December 22, 1930 in rural Onward, Indiana to Floyd and Hazel (Kesling) Cotterman.  In 1949, he graduated valedictorian from Onward High School. He attended Purdue studying Agriculture Management.  The Korean Conflict broke out, so he left college to join the Air Force, where he served from 1950 to 1954.  After basic training, he entered the Electronic Repair Program and rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant while serving in Okinawa, Japan.  The summer of 1953 his sister and brother-in-law took him on a fishing trip to Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, where he met Joanne Hugo, who was also visiting Detroit Lakes with her Aunt & Uncle.  Jack and Joanne's courtship consisted of four dates and many letters.  Jack proposed to Joanne by asking if she could live with his big nose for the rest of her life.  On October 3, 1954 they were married in Coffeyville, Kansas. Jack returned to Purdue where he earned a degree in Electrical Engineering. One of his early career highlights was working for NASA on Project Mercury.  Later Jack was part of the team who developed the computer modem and went on to work for Hughes Aircraft installing modems into military planes.  His work took him to Huntington Beach, California and Hampton, Virginia where he worked toward his Masters in Education from William and Mary.  His final posting with Hughes Aircraft was at Richards-Gebaur in Belton, Missouri, where Jack and Joanne have lived since 1966.  While in Belton, he went to work for the FAA at the Air Route Traffic Control Center in Olathe, Kansas and retired from there in 1991.

Outside of work, Jack was an avid collector of coins and puns.  He and Joanne shared a life on the farm raising their five children.  As a family they attended Belton Assembly, where Jack was a member since 1966.  He faithfully served as Treasurer and as Deacon. His gift for teaching and his depth of Biblical knowledge made for a perfect fit as he taught Sunday School.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Don Cotterman, his sisters Vivian Yoder and Lois Couch, Grandaughter Erin Cotterman, and Grandson Ben Turner.

He is survived by his wife Joanne Cotterman, his children David (Barbara) Cotterman, Deborah Cotterman, Dan (Cindy) Cotterman, Doug (Shari) Cotterman, Denise (Scott) Turner; twelve grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Belton Assembly of God Church 613 E North Ave., Belton, Missouri 64012 or Heart-n-Hand Ministries 200 B St., Belton, Missouri 64012.

Arrangements: Cullen Funeral Home, Inc., Raymore, Missouri 816.322.5278