Obituaries : Justin Malik Coots

Following a courageous battle with a very rare and aggressive kidney cancer, Renal Medullary Carcinoma (RMC), Justin Malik Coots, 23, passed away Friday, February 9, 2024.  Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, February 17, 2024, at First Baptist Church, Vinton, with Pastor Shane Klein officiating.  Friends may visit with the family from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., Friday, February 16, 2024, at the church. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery.  Per Justin's wishes, the casket will be closed. Van Steenhuyse-Teahen Funeral Home is caring for Justin and his family.

Justin was born February 17, 2000, in Cedar Rapids, the son of Scott and Hollie (Janssen) Coots.  He attended school in Vinton-Shellsburg, graduating in 2018, and then attended UNI.  While at Vinton-Shellsburg, Justin participated in football and track. He was employed as a mechanic for Junge Ford, Hiawatha.

Justin was smart, witty, and passionate about the things most important to him.  Justin's love and knowledge of high-performance cars was shared with more than 71,000 TikTok followers.  Chasing his love of cars led him to car shows where he met his girlfriend, Sami.  Justin's job as a mechanic allowed him to do what he loved every day.  In his final days, Justin continued to find joy doing another activity he loved, constructing Lego's! Justin's Star Wars "stormtrooper empire" greeted those who entered.  Justin embraced all of his passions wholeheartedly and his love was immeasurable.  

Left to cherish Justin's memory are his parents, Scott and Hollie Coots; two sisters, Jade and Josie Coots; his girlfriend, Samantha Prosser; maternal grandparents, Rodney and Shannon Janssen; paternal grandparents, David and Mary Coots; great-grandfather, Hilbert Janssen; great-grandparents, Neil and Mary Cantonwine; uncles and aunts: Michael and Lisa Schooley, and Jody and Tyneal Herger; cousins: Grant and Catherine Schooley, and Davia Herger (Hunter Hazen), and Paul Herger; and "special" aunts and uncles: Wendi and Duane Frye, and son, Aiden, and Lisa and Chris Staab.

Justin was preceded in death by his great-grandmother, Mary Janssen; great-grandparents, Clyde and Alice St. Clair; and cousin, Lainey Robertson.

Days before Justin passed, he and his family learned about a bill being presented to legislators to raise awareness for Renal Medullary Carcinoma and pursue early detection for those with sickle cell trait.  Memorials will be used to continue the fight against RMC in honor of Justin.

Online condolences for the family may be left at www.teahenfuneralhome.com.