DENISON – Fredrick E. "Rick" Cole, Jr., 69, of Denison, lost his battle with COPD on Saturday, March 12, 2022 at his home.

He was born June 20, 1952 in Hiawatha, the son of Fred and Mary Bechtold Cole. He attended Leona and Highland Schools, and served four years in the U.S. Navy and two years in the Navy Reserves.

Rick worked in various occupations. He farmed, applied fertilizer for Valley Grain & Fertilizer, was a truck driver for Georgia Pacific, and his last job was as the curator of the Midwest Classics Tractor Museum in Highland.

He was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Mayetta, Mayetta Knights of Columbus Council No. 9535 and Highland American Legion Post No. 358.

Rick married Sharon Lutz on June 4, 1976. She survives, of the home.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother-in-law, John Whetstine.

Other survivors include a daughter, Rachel Cole, Petersburg, VA; a son, Mark Cole (Caitlyn), Holton; one brother, Emmett Cole (Kathy), Highland; four sisters, Melinda
Wareham (Bob), Whiting, Virginia Whetstine, Highland, Carol Kilmer (Craig), Kirksville, MO and Mary Schneider (Ronnie), Highland; and a grandson, Dalton.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, March 18th at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. Burial with military honors will follow in the Highland Cemetery. Rick will lie in state at the Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Holton. The casket will remain closed. A Rosary will be prayed at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday at the church, followed by visitation until 8:00 p.m. Memorials are suggested to the Holton Community Hospital Hospice or
St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, and may be sent in care of the Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, PO Box 1034, Holton, KS 66436.