Jerry Grant Coles

Jerry Grant Coles, 74, passed away peacefully Tuesday, December 2, 2024 at 9:11 pm surrounded by a host of family and friends.
Jerry Grant Coles was born to Charles and Elda Darlene Coles on the 10th Day of January in Des Moines, Iowa. He was the youngest of four children. Jerry was an active member of the Boy Scouts of America until he graduated and got his diploma at Des Moines Technical High School. He enlisted in the US Army.
To say he was a hard man to love would be grossly understated.
Jerry was stationed in Vietnam and served his country until his honorable discharge date of August 1, 1975. He married his high school sweetheart Laurie Nicholson, and they had two children Jerry Jr., born in 1970 and Stacey in 1974. They divorced after 16 years.
Jerry enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, and really had a passion for landscaping and decorating for Christmas. He said it was therapeutic. He loved gadgets and was always exited to find the brightest flashlights or the coolest pocketknives. He was ornery as anyone you could know and was quick with his witty and usually sarcastic comebacks. You were always guaranteed a laugh. He would come at a moment's notice and come hell nor high water he would be there to help even if to keep a fire going all night so his daughter, Stacey and kids could stay warm while on camping trips, he definately had the biggest of egos and his charm was unmatched. You always knew when he had been over because he left the smell of his cologne to linger. It was Polo by Ralph Lauren and nothing else would do.
To say he was a hard man to love would be grossly understated.
His grandkids were just his partners in crime, and he wore that proudly. He built the best tree house and kept adding as the years passed and the kids were having kids his health was not great, but he kept going till he could not.
He was a hard man to love and really loved on his terms if you didn't like it, you knew where the door was, he could put a scare in you and make you laugh in the same breath.
He was a hard man to love.
He married his second wife in 1993 and gained a couple of sons, Aaron and Dustin whom he really became close with and Aaron more so and it broke his heart when he could not see him anymore. He prayed someday he would be able to tell him why and hoped had understood, thankfully that day came a few years before he passed.
He married his third and final wife, and she was definitely a blessing he wasn't quite deserving of, but she didn't back down or leave when things got rough and boy would they be rough. It definitely challenged the vows of marriage in sickness and in health. She was his caretaker and all it entails.
He was survived by his wife Laura Lee Burke-Coles (son Justin), his only Daughter Stacey Coles (Dave) son Aaron Love and his furry baby Izzy. His sister Linda and brothers Jim and John, His grandkids, Miranda Dione (Alex), Tyler Mason (Haley), L.J, aka cowboy (Jennifer) Caleb Coles, and Kennedy "Do No Wrong" (Gunner) Kayla Coles, and Patrick Behle and 8 great grandkids with more on the way.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father Charles and Darlene as well as his first wife Laurie Coles and his son and namesake Jerry Grant Coles Jr.
He will be greatly missed. A funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m. Friday, December 20, 2024 at Simplify Cremations and Funerals Chapel with a visitation beginning at 2:00 p.m. The family invited everyone to join them following the service for a reception lunch at Baldwin Paterson Legion Hall on the corner of E 42nd Street and Easton Blvd in Des Moines.