John A. Jack Coates Sr.;62;of Rostraver Township;died Friday;Aug.19;2005;at 10:06 a.m.at his home.  A kind;caring;compassionate man went to be with the Lord after a courageous battle with cancer.  Born Sept.11.1942;in Fayette City; he was the son of the late Peter and Charlotte Dean-Ashton Coates.  Mr.Coates was a resident of Rostraver Township;having previously resided in Speers and Fayette City;and he was a member of Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Church in Fayette City.  Jack worked for the United Steel Workers of America.  He was assistant director for District 10 for the State of Pennsylvania.  Jack started his career at the Allenport Plant;Local 1187.  In the early 1970’a he was appointed grievance committeeman and later elected financial secretary.  On March 1;1980;he was appointed staff representative by his mentor;the late Paul Lewis;former director.  Jack became sub-director and in 2002 became assistant director to now Director John DeFazio.  Jack lived and believed in the union.  He believed that all men and women in the workforce should be treated with dignity and receive a decent wage and all should have benefits including hospitalization for employees and their families.  He worked hard to accomplish this for many in the Mon Valley and the State of PA.  Jack loved to be involved in politics.  He was Democratic Committeeman for Wash.County and was involved with the Central Labor Council.  Jack also was the District 10 Organizing Coordinator;Coordinator for Area 2 Legislative Committee and the Politaical Action Coordinator for the State of Pa.  He is survived by his wife;Lynne Aldridge Zema Coates;to whom he was married 22 years;two sons and daughters-in-law;John A.Jr.and Cristin Coates;of Allison Park;and Pete and Debbie Coates;of Streetsboro;Ohio;one step-daughter-and son-in-law;Natalie and Ed Hemmit;of Naples;Fla.;one sister and brother-in-law;Catherine S.and Jack Marshall;of Coudersport;seven grandchildren;Azalyn and Arielle Amprim;both whom he helped raise;Nicolette Walker;Hayley and Shaylyn Hemmit;and Breanna and Benjamin Coates;several nieces and nephews;his devoted dog;Bodie;a true and faithful friend to the end;Art Balieu;and special cousins;Claire and Chuch Povich.  In addition to his parents;he was preceded in death by one stepdaughter;Marla Beth Zema Amprim;on Oct.1;1992.   Visitation will be held Sunday from 7 to 9 p.m.and Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.at the LEONARD J.PARZYNSKI FUNERAL HOME;family owned and operated;626 Broad Ave.;Belle Vernon (724-929-6183).  A Prayer Service will be held Tuesday;Aug.23 at 9:15 a.m.in the funeral home;followed by a Funeral Mass at 10 a.m.in Holy Spirit R.C.Church with the Rev.Leonard J.McAlpin as celebrant.  Interment will take place in Belle Vernon Cemetery.  A parish Wake Service will be held Monday at 7:30 p.m.  The family suggests memorial contributions by made in memory of John Jack Coates Sr.to:United Steel Workers Strike and Defense Fund.  For those unable to attend;online condolences may be sent to the family at the funeral home’s website:http;/www.parzynskifuneralhome.com