Pamela "Pam" Jean Coats

Pamela “Pam” Jean Coats, 71, of Marion, Iowa, beloved mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, and RN, passed away unexpectedly from this life last fall, on Friday, October 25, 2024, at her home. In agreement with her wishes, cremation had taken place. A memorial service celebrating Pam’s life will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Marion, where the family will greet friends for two hours, from 5 p.m. until the service time. Certified Celebrant, Suzanne Seigel Renner will officiate. A private family inurnment will take place at a later date, at Antioch Cemetery in Anamosa, Iowa.

Pam was born on September 25, 1953, in Anamosa, the daughter of Newell Keith and Jean Louise (Achenbach) Meeks. She was a graduate of Olin High School and went on to earn her nursing degree from Finley Hospital School of Nursing in Dubuque, Iowa. On September 26, 1981, Pam was united in marriage to Albert “Al” Martin Coats. To this union, three children were born: Tami, Alicia and Sean. She was first employed as a Registered Nurse with St. Luke’s Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for three years, prior to moving back to Anamosa, where she worked for UnityPoint Health, St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for 40 years before retiring. Pam worked in a variety of different departments including pediatrics; she had a special love for little kids, popping pimples, and working on people’s feet. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Pam is survived and lovingly remembered by her husband of 43 years, Al Coats of Marion; daughter, Tami Irvin of Marion; son, Sean Coats (fiancée, Vanessa Colony) of Marion; four granddaughters, Nakayla, Braylynn, Paysleigh, and Brayleigh; mother, Jean Rekemeyer of Anamosa; three sisters, Regina “Gina” Smith, Becky (Andy) Jamison, both of Anamosa, and Renee Mente (Mike Severs) of Ft. Myers, Florida; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by one daughter at infancy (Tami’s identical twin sister), Alicia Coats; father, Newell Meeks; stepfather, Dean Rekemeyer; and three brothers, Terry, Tim, and Rick Meeks.