Donald Maynard Coller

Donald Maynard Coller, well known Bloomington businessman, passed away on January 20, 2026 in Georgia. Born in Cygnet, Ohio on November 15, 1937, he was the son of Maynard Earl Coller and Ruth Winifred (Wolfe) Coller. The family, including Don and his two younger siblings, moved to Bloomington in 1949 when Maynard began his career at Indiana University. Don was a 1956 graduate of University High School in Bloomington, and later graduated from Indiana University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and then a Doctor of Jurisprudence. Don’s business spirit showed itself early. As a youngster, he had a lawn mowing business, a paper route, raised rabbits, and had an ice cream cart. During his undergraduate years at IU, a coupon company approached the Dean of the Business School to inquire about someone who could come up with a processing system for the paper coupons used in grocery stores. The Dean called on Don, and he started his first “real” business. With his first wife, Rebecca (Stoner), they began with a sorting system in desk drawers; they soon figured out how to sort, and then weigh, the coupons rather than add them up individually. Of course, it wasn’t long until he was on to something else, and the business was sold. While still in law school, Don built the first off-campus student housing in Bloomington. Despite being told by the powers that be at IU that there was no need for such apartments, as well as being told by local business owners that they had to have payment up front for materials because this was such a risky venture, he persisted. If only those people could see how college housing has taken off in the years since, they might think Don Coller was onto something! In the early 1970’s Don decided the future was in the South, and he built apartments in Gainesville, Florida. In 1979, he moved his family to Winter Park, Florida to broaden his business presence, with units around the Orlando area as well as in Tallahassee and additional ones in Gainesville. Before anyone knew it, he also owned a resort on the Gulf of America in Homosassa, Florida. His next move was to Atlanta where he continued to manage his other ventures as well as becoming a success in the commercial warehouse business. Don was always interested in economic events, watched trends, and predicted what would be next. He was quick to notice an opportunity and wanted to share his ideas with his friends and family. He set quite a few people up in their own businesses and inspired others to become entrepreneurs. Don loved to build and create; he was never deterred from taking a risk. Once he started something, he was all in; he simply made it work. Doing something “half-way” was not a concept with which he was familiar. Throughout it all, he was plenty tough, but also always acted with honesty and integrity. He taught his children above all else, “Do the right thing.” Along the way, Don pursued a variety of hobbies. He loved to garden; in the early years, he was known to plant so many green beans that his kids had to go to the farmer’s market just to get rid of them. In later years, his specialty became tomatoes; naturally, he grew more than he and his wife, Patricia (Turner) could possibly eat, and his family and friends benefitted from his overproduction. He loved to fish and owned a fishing camp on Lake of the Woods in Ontario. There, not only did the kids work, but his sister and brother-in-law spent summers in Canada running the camp. And, of course, there were always the dogs. He began by showing Dobermans primarily and had several champions at the national level. His next breed of choice was German Shorthair Pointers, and along with his son, Ben, the trainer in chief, several of his dogs earned national championships at field trials. Finally, he and Pat kept German Shepherds as their pets and bred English Setters for show. These beautiful Setters won so many awards, that the English Setter Association put out the word that they should give someone else a chance! For the past 23 years, he and Pat spent most of their time in Madison, Georgia, where they could grow all the vegetables they could ever need, enjoy the dogs, and live the country life Don always wanted. No doubt Don was a success in business and in his hobbies. Yet, he was also generous. He supported Indiana University, establishing two scholarships in the Geology department in honor of his parents. He donated the development rights on his 1,600 acre farm to the Sycamore Land Trust (which was the largest contribution received to date) as well as the rights to another Bloomington farm. He made large contributions to the Humane Society. And, of course, he sponsored numerous little league teams and other events. While Don accomplished so much, he also managed to be a good friend and a good family man. He was always interested in hearing what others were doing, whether it was career moves, school, or sports. He greatly enjoyed spending time talking with his grandchildren and their spouses sharing stories and hearing about their interests; he would have dearly loved having many more of those conversations in the future. Don encouraged everyone to pursue interests other than work. Whether it was taking his son, Matt, on one of many fishing trips; going to horse shows and swimming meets with his daughter, Maribeth, and son, Ben; trying to teach his grandchildren to ride horses (they did not take to it) or treating them to a trip to France; teaching his great grandchildren to drive the ATV in Idaho; or inviting friends to visit with Pat and him in Michigan, the Florida Keys, Idaho, New York City, North Carolina, or Georgia; it was always his relationships that mattered the most. It is with heavy hearts that we say farewell to Don, Donald, Papa Don, Mr. Coller, Mr. Don, and Dad. We will hold him close within our hearts, and there he will remain, to walk and guide us through our lives until we meet again. In addition to his parents, Don was preceded in death by his sister, MaryAnne Olsen, his son, David Wolfe Coller, and his grandson, Jesse Chewning. Left to mourn him are his devoted wife and constant companion, Pat; his children, Ben Coller (Cristal), Maribeth Coller (Gene Chewning), and Matt Coller (Rivkah Roby); his brother, David Coller (Bertie), and brother in law, Larry Olsen; his uncle, Ralph Wolfe; four grandchildren, Mike Schlictman (Michelle Ronay), Emily Brackenhoff (Matt), Tyler Chewning (Kim), and Sarah Freeman (Justin); and eight great grandchildren, Jack and Fred Ronay-Schlictman, Addie Brackenhoff, Grant and Grace Chewning, and Jesse, Luke, and Claire Freeman. The family will greet visitors at Allen Funeral Home in Bloomington, Indiana on January 31, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. prior to the funeral service at 2:00 p.m. A reception in celebration of Don’s life will follow at Woolery Mill, 2250 W Sunstone Dr., Bloomington. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Humane Society of Morgan County, online at www.humanemorgan.org/donate/ or call (706) 343-9977.

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Donald Maynard Coller

November 15, 1937 - January 20, 2026