In Memory of

Justin

William

Coomer

Obituary for Justin William Coomer

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” - Isaiah 40: 28-31

Justin William Coomer, 40, beloved husband of 16 years to Michelle Coomer; a devoted daddy to two precious boys, Luke Coomer (10) and Levi Coomer (7); the son of Shawn and Nicholet Coomer, and the beloved son in-law of Debbie and Paul Crask. He was also an amazing brother (Lauren Kampschaeffer and Ryan Coomer); brother-in-law (Ross Kampschaeffer, Stephen and Amanda Crask; as well as an uncle to many, and friend to all.

Justin was a quick-witted jokester who found joy in making those around him smile & laugh. His relationships ran deep; he was all-in friend who desired to help lighten the load. Justin longed to journey shoulder-to-shoulder, no matter how difficult the climb, alongside those God placed in his life.

Justin’s soul was tender-loving and full of forgiveness and grace. Many knew him as “Coomer”, “Coom-Daddy”, “Cooms” and "Uncle Coomer"; and in the last few years of his life, he earned his cape and title “Superman.” He was one of a kind; there is no one who could ever fill the shoes of this guy.

Justin had a passion for fishing, even though he lost fishing pole after fishing pole (usually from flipping his kayak). He loved the challenge of finding a honey hole for Luke, Levi and himself. He cherished family time fiercely and spent year after year traveling to Anna Maria Island, Dale Hollow Lake and many other special places, making the best memories. His love for his friends ran deeper than blood, as many were considered his brothers. He cherished being in the presence of those he loved most.

There are few men whose passions include cooking and cleaning, but Justin could whip up a delicious dish while cleaning the crumbs simultaneously. The love of UK basketball and football runs deep within Justin’s family; he was a CATS fan to the end. Justin has touched the lives of many; not in his own strength, however, but the strength of His heavenly Father. The greatest gift of all was Justin’s ever-growing love for Jesus.

On Christmas Eve 2020, Justin was diagnosed with a rare cancer, Undifferentiated Spindle Cell Sarcoma of the abdominal wall. He underwent surgery to remove the large mass, only to find out several months later that the cancer had spread to his lungs.

Justin was connected with the best sarcoma oncologist at MD Anderson in Houston, Dr. Ratan. He lived in Houston for 4 months while undergoing treatment, and his wife and sons flew back and forth for visits during his stay. Due to the rare and aggressive nature of the cancer, Justin and Michelle flew to MD Anderson every 3 months.

In May of 2022, the cancer spread to his brain, and Justin persevered through multiple major brain surgeries, radiation treatments and a brain infection before entering palliative care. His team of doctors in Louisville were superb.

Justin’s family can never adequately express their gratitude for his superb team of doctors in Louisville: Dr. Sun, Dr. Spaulding and Dr. Sinicrope. Each doctor always had Justin’s best interest in mind, communicated clearly and lovingly to his family and went above and beyond in their deep commitment to researching Justin’s cancer.

Additionally, Justin’s family would like to recognize and thank the team of professionals and caregivers who will always hold a special place in their hearts: Brenda, the greeter at Norton Cancer Institute Brownsboro, with her warm and genuine welcome at every visit. Music therapist, Brian Schreck, who in his ministry, created treasured recordings of Justin’s heartbeat, a book recited for Luke and Levi and special words left for those dear to Justin. Hospice nurse, Aaron, spent the last week tending to Justin’s body, heart and soul, as well as the strong and weary spirits of Justin’s family. Nurse Juliette left a special imprint on the Coomer family and close friends. There are so many more members of Justin’s care team who also deserve to be recognized; please know that each of you have a permanent place in the hearts of his family.

Justin fought the good fight and finished the race well. Cancer attempted to win the battle, but Justin surrendered his battle to our Creator and chose to allow God to fight for him through unimaginable circumstances. God gave strength to Justin when he was weary, increased his faith and transformed his heart and soul during the weakest of hours and darkest nights.

Born on June 23, 1982, to Shawn and Nicholet Coomer, Justin entered the pearly gates of Heaven on April 3, 2023 at 4:03 a.m. Luke and Levi had the opportunity to love on their daddy on his last day here on Earth. They sang songs, prayed for his suffering to end and kissed his sleeping cheeks as they said their goodbyes. During the final hours of Justin’s life, he was surrounded by close family, as well as his family of dearest friends. His room at Baptist East was a sacred place of celebration, laughter and tears, silence and prayers.

In his final hour, Justin’s wife, Michelle, alongside two of her best friends, Kimberlee and Katie, bore witness to the beauty of the shedding of his broken body as he peacefully took his last breath, praising God for full restoration and asking God to carry the grieving souls of those who love Justin dearly. He will be missed greatly but those who TRUST in the Lord, know that this life is but a mist and they hold fast to the promises, that one day, there will be a holy reunion. Cancer never stood a chance; God won and Justin is free, free at last.

Justin’s visitation will be held at LaGrange Baptist Church, 1139 Commerce Drive, LaGrange, KY, on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. His funeral service will also be held at LaGrange Baptist Church on Wednesday, April 12 at 11:00 a.m. A graveside service will follow at Duncan Memorial Floydsburg Cemetery, 5600 Floydsburg Road in Crestwood, KY.

Donations in Justin's memory made be made to:

Sarcoma Foundation of America
9899 Main Street, #204,
Damascus, MD 20872
(301) 253-8687 - Option 2
www.curesarcoma.org