Johnnie Wayne Coffman

Johnnie Wayne Coffman was born on October 4, 1949 to Charles Douglas Coffman and Georgia Gwenn Ross Coffman, and he passed over on the strawberry full moon, June 10, 2025. He was the youngest brother to Doug Coffman and Bob Coffman and adopted brother to Sherry Shadwick Breshears. He grew up in Ruskin Heights on the south side of Kansas City, MO. At age 16, he found and married his soul mate, Mary Theresa Coffman (yes, her maiden name was Coffman with no known connections). Together, their life was a beacon of love, honesty and devotion to anyone and everyone who knew them. Johnnie leaves 3 children and 2 sons-in-law (Colleen Antoinette Coffman Spruell & Philip Allen Spruell, Amy Lynn Coffman Massey & Chip Massey, and Jason Wayne Coffman), one adopted daughter, son-in-law and their family (Christine, Bobby, Robyn & Charlie Blue), 5 grandchildren (Aaron Andrae Caponetto, Kendall Antony Caponetto/Bailey, Adrian Alexander Caponetto, Alan May/Cecily May and Addison Ritchie), and 3 great grandchildren (Bella Mary Caponetto, Elliot Sway Caponetto, Myles Taylor, Paisley Davis and Finn Atlas Caponetto), 2 incredibly loved dogs (Shaman and Mystique), hundreds of orphaned children and too many outcasts to count. He was preceded in death by both parents, both brothers and his beloved wife. Johnnie was a championship swimmer and diver as a young man and he was Olympics bound and then he met Mary and changed his life path to being his family. He was one helluva talented roller skater, too. He started an over-the-road trucking career at the age of 17, travelling an estimated 3 million miles during his life and career. During the 1980’s, he switched gears and went back to school for electronics at DeVry which landed him a career in telecommunications with Sprint. It was around that time he spotlit his creative side and helped create the western-style reenactment group, The Westport Posse. There, he sowed deep and meaningful friendships with his fellow reenactors and their families which lasted for the rest of his life. In the late 90’s, a botched back surgery left him with a lot of health issues, but Johnnie persevered. We often marveled at how he took a deep dive into the abyss and came back to us. In 2003, Mary had a heart attack, and he lost her. He was devastated. He sold their house and moved to the Lake of the Ozarks, where he spent the next 20 years cultivating memories and friends which would last the rest of his life. He raised wolf hybrids before it was fashionable, leading to one of the most self-admitted enriching experiences of his 75 years. Jesus and Maggie were his constant companions, and they not only changed his life but probably saved it, too (not to mention other lives, as well). Last fall, he and his oldest daughter and her husband bought some property together, moving him closer to his family in Kansas City. He’s spent the last few months being spoiled rotten by them and enjoying his hidden acre. Johnnie’s family isn’t going to hold a traditional memorial but will instead have a celebration in his name on a date to be released at a future time.

Johnnie Wayne Coffman

October 4, 1949 - June 10, 2025