James "Jim" H. Coggeshall, of Marshfield, passed away peacefully on December 27, 2025, 15 days after his 85th birthday, surrounded by his loving wife and children.  He was born on December 13, 1940, in Plymouth, Massachusetts, the loving son of Gertrude and James C. Coggeshall.

Jim was the devoted husband of 58 loving years to Paula (Norris) Coggeshall; the proud father of Bill and his wife Doreen, daughter Debbie; and the cherished grandfather of Sophia and William.  He was preceded in death by his infant brother, Arthur, and brothers William (Billy) and David.  Jim is survived by his sisters, Barbara Francis of NY and Nancy Curtis of CA, along with his beloved nieces, nephews, their spouses, grandnieces, grandnephews, and in-laws.

Jim was a lifelong resident of Marshfield, a town he carried a deep love for and was proud to call home.  He graduated from Marshfield High school in 1958, where he was quite the athlete, participating in football, basketball and wrestling.  His high school photographs remain on display at the school to this day.

A man of genuine friendliness and deep care for those around him, Jim lived his life guided by strong faith and values.  Though raised Protestant, he willingly chose to support his wife in raising their children Catholic.  He later went on to complete the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) program, became Catholic himself, and faithfully served as a Eucharistic Minister at Saint Christine Parish in Marshfield.

Growing up in a family of five children, Jim learned the value of hard work at a young age.  He held many jobs to help support his family, including delivering newspapers as a paper boy, riding on the back of the sanding truck shoveling sand onto the icy winter roads, and caddying at Marshfield Country Club.

After high school, Jim proudly served four years in the United States Navy, stationed in Italy.  During his service, he formed lifelong Naval friends whom he kept in touch with over the years.

Jim met his beloved wife, Paula, one summer down in Brant Rock, where she was visiting with girlfriends from Brookline.  Their chance meeting grew into a lifelong partnership filled with devotion, love, and family traditions.

Jim carried a profound loss in his heart following the death of his youngest brother, William (Billy), who served as a medic in the Vietnam War. Just two months before Jim and Paula were to be married, the family received the most devastating news that Billy, age 21, had been killed while saving injured members of his unit.

Jim spent many years as a self-employed business owner, owning and operating several gas stations throughout his career. His work reflected his dedication and commitment to supporting his family and serving his community, qualities that defined him professionally and personally.  More recently, Jim retired from 14 years working as an aide on a Special Education van, a job he truly loved.  He made such a meaningful difference in the lives of many children and their families.

Golf became a lifelong passion for Jim.  Years after caddying as a young man, he became a proud member of Marshfield Country Club, where he served on committees and formed friendships that became family.  The club was a place of friendly competition, laughter, and countless shared memories.

A devoted Boston sports fan, Jim passionately followed the Red Sox and the Patriots.  He faithfully followed the PGA tour and regaled his memories attending the Master's Tournament multiple times.  He also enjoyed traveling with friends and family, visiting Italy, England, and France, and sharing unforgettable golf trips with his son to Ireland and Scotland. He delighted in telling funny stories of these adventures, stories his family loved hearing over and over.

Jim loved music, Elvis being one of his favorites.  He loved dancing, reading, playing cards, especially Bridge, adored the family dogs, and found peace watching the waves at local beaches.  He took great joy in the beautiful gardens his wife planted and in watching the colorful hummingbirds that visited.

Jim lived a life grounded in strong values and morals, evident in his integrity, compassion, loyalty, and love.  He was deeply devoted to his family and dreamed of providing them with all he did not have growing up.  He encouraged his children and grandchildren to value lifelong learning and took immense pride in all of their accomplishments.  Nothing brought him more joy than spending time with his family and staying connected to their lives.

Jim's greatest joy was being an amazing grandfather to Sophia and Will.  His heart knew no bounds when it came to loving them.  He was actively involved in every stage of their lives and loved every moment with them, taking them to the library, playgrounds, ice rinks for skating practices, and teaching them to read, spell, ride bikes, play sports, and even drive!  He treasured every moment with them, and they cherished sharing their lives with him.

Jim loved life.  He loved his life and was grateful for every experience it gave him.  He always said that if he were to "go tomorrow," he'd be okay with it because he had lived a wonderful life.  And he did!  Jim lived a life full of love, family, and friendships.  Though our hearts are aching with pain and loss, we will always remember how he lived and loved.  We find comfort in sharing his stories and will forever be blessed to have shared our lives with him.

Family and friends are invited to attend the wake on Wednesday, January 7, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at the MacDonald Funeral Home in Marshfield. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, January 8, at 10:30 AM at Saint Christine's Parish, followed by a luncheon at Marshfield Country Club.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of James Coggeshall may be made to Tufts Medical Center in support of the exceptional care provided by the Medical Intensive Care Unit.  Donations in check form should be made out to "Tufts Medical Center" for the program of your choice. Please include the name of the person who is being remembered or honored in the memo line. All donors will receive an acknowledgment from Tufts Medical Center. Checks should be mailed to Tufts Medical Center Development Office, 800 Washington Street, #231, Boston, MA 02111. Gifts can be given online at: https://giving.tuftsmedicalcenter.org/give-now . At the bottom of the form, you will see "Tribute Information (Optional)" where you can acknowledge your tribute. You may also call 617.636.7656 to make a credit card donation by phone.

For online guest book, driving directions and other helpful information please visit the website macdonaldfuneralhome.com