Photo by Matt Stensland
Former Steamboat Springs Police Department Sgt. Dale Coyner (front row, center) visited his colleagues Wednesday to judge a mustache competition put on for his benefit. Coyner died Saturday morning after battling esophageal cancer.
Kindness, integrity defined Dale Coyner
Steamboat Springs police sergeant succumbs to cancer Saturday morning
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Past coverage
Articles about Dale Coyner's battle with esophageal cancer:
Sept. 29: A Steamboat sergeant’s fight with cancer
Oct. 10: Letter to the Editor: Dale and Judy Coyner: Our heartfelt thanks
Oct. 29: Raffle tickets available to benefit Steamboat police Sgt. Dale Coyner
Nov. 20: Steamboat police officers grow mustaches to benefit sergeant
Dec. 2: Mustache contest judging photo
Steamboat Springs — Wednesday was a good day. Dale Coyner, a Steamboat Springs Police Department officer of more than a decade, was in good spirits despite the pain and weakness caused by his stage 4 esophageal cancer.
He judged a mustache contest among his colleagues and listened as Capt. Joel Rae stood up and commended him for his years of service to the community.
“It was very important that he was surrounded by all his friends and co-workers,” said Nick Bosick, a Steamboat Springs police detective and longtime friend of Coyner’s. “I know it meant a lot to Dale to feel like he was a part of the department, which he is and will always be.
“It was just a good day.”
Coyner died in his sleep early Saturday morning at his Steamboat home after battling the disease for about five months.
Police Sgt. Gerard Geis said the memorial service likely will be next weekend, but details are not finalized.
While the mood among police officers was understandably somber Saturday, there also was a sense of relief that Coyner was no longer in pain.
“I think, you know, everybody’s kind of relieved that it didn’t linger any longer,” Bosick said. “Dale was a pretty proud person, and I know if it would have been up to him … he didn’t want to have people worried about him.
“I guess everybody’s pretty relieved he’s not suffering anymore.”
Geis said he worked with Coyner for 13 years. He always admired his friend for being someone who simply did the right thing, regardless of the situation.
“He did everything with integrity and professionalism, and that’s how he’s always done it,” Geis said. “He taught me that it doesn’t matter how big or small you are. You can always work through a situation without it getting physical.”
Geis said even down to his last hours, Coyner was not particularly fond of being fussed over by friends and family. But that didn’t stop his friends and colleagues from putting on several fundraisers in recent months to help Coyner’s family with medical expenses.
That support continued in the hours after Coyner’s death.
Coyner’s wife, Judy, has “got a lot of support and love from people right now, and that’s really helped her bear down,” Geis said.
Bosick said the support has grown out of the seeds of community Coyner had been sowing throughout his life in the Yampa Valley.
He explained how Coyner’s ties to the county where he grew up ran deep through his work ethic and dedication to Steamboat Springs.
Coyner took great pride in the place where his grandfather homesteaded and where his father worked as a fire chief on and off for 21 years. He and Judy live in the home his father built on River Road in the Brooklyn neighborhood.
“Dale was part of us,” Bosick said. “We’ll obviously have to fill his position, and I don’t know how you do that. Someone’s going to have to step up to the plate, but we’ll never have a Dale Coyner again.”
Coyner is survived by his wife, Judy; a son, Daniel; and a daughter, Rebekah.
Comments
julipj 2 years, 5 months ago
It makes me so sad all that people who suffer because of cancer, and those around them !, it's just so hard breaking ....my sincere condolences to Dale's Family.....and in his memory i wanna express my frustration about how Cancer keeps doing this maybe without need!!!
It makes me angry.....are we still waiting for a cure for cancer? let's be realistic, in a country where the pharmaceutical companies are so POWERFUL and RICH cancer cures means NO BUSINESS.... i don't see this happening in the near future....WHAT WE DESERVE TO KNOW is something we really NEVER pay attention to and is to what causes cancer and how to prevent it and even cure it!! Diseases don't just happen! THEY KNOW what increases the risk of or directly produces it but they don't want you to KNOW. The Food you eat ! The things u do! The stressu carry !!! what do we really think we know about this? I and 1000s more believe u don't need any medications nor drugs to feel better,YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT!! when will we understand that? Watch movies like Food Inc, Fast Food Nation....read any books from PhD Dr. Lorraine Day....learn the recipe for health and stop trusting other people with economic interests your health!
Jason Miller 2 years, 5 months ago
I'm so sorry to hear about this,my condolences.
Clare 2 years, 5 months ago
lame, God isn't about bringing us pain, He is about Hope, Grace, Love, and so much more. He gave His only Son Jesus Christ (and we are in the season of His birth), so that we may have eternal life. Can you imagine giving up a son so that sinners who know the Lord will have eternal life? Not only sacraficing that Son but having Him nailed to a cross.
Dale Coyner was a man of so many wonderful things. You could count on him, he was human, I've laughed with him, asked for his advise, you could use him as an example of a man that I am sure Christ is be proud of.
Life is short. No matter how long we have on earth we will always leave behind people we care about and love, as difficult as that is they will live on until God calls them home. Our lives are on loan from God. We do well to understand as much as we can of its length and breadth, its strength and weakness, and its place in human history. By doing this, we can honor the truth of the psalmist wrote, "My times are in Your hand" (Psalm 31:15). I have lost a sibling in an untimely death. Surving the pain seemed impossible but that was several years ago. I laugh at the memories and am thankful for the time he was here with us. God is good, draw strength from Him and let Him bring you peace. Merry Christmas!
Paul Timmons 2 years, 5 months ago
Dale was a special person. We are better just because we knew him and were able to spend time with a man of his caliber. Dale had a "can do attitude". Its people like Dale that makes Steamboat Springs such a good place. Dale , you rest in peace and thank you for your service.
1999 2 years, 5 months ago
oh good god clare...give it a rest.
there is no god. It's all make believe. and all that BS about "giving his only son" is especially hogwash.
but i'm sure you''ll just explain it all away by saying..
"god works in mysterious ways. we don't know his plan."
what a convenient load of crap
seeuski 2 years, 5 months ago
Thanks for defining who and what you are 1999. Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas. God bless.
pitpoodle 2 years, 5 months ago
1999, you are a sad soul. Sad and insensitive. I feel sorry for you kid.
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