John "Jack" Cooper

Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, September 18, 2009 at the United Church of Faulkton with Pastor Paul Smith officiating. Burial followed in the Faulkton Cemetery. Visitation was held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, September 17, 2009 with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service at Luce Funeral Home, Faulkton.

John “Jack” W. Cooper was born to W.H. and Elizabeth (Wignall) Cooper on April 7, 1920, in Heitman, Iowa. At the age of three weeks he came with his mother and two older siblings to Burkmere, SD where they were met by his father who had come to Faulk County and purchased a farm in Bryant Township.

He received his elementary schooling in several rural schools in Faulk County. He graduated from Seneca High School in 1938 and then attended the Austin Auctioneering School in Austin, MN. He practiced this trade very limitedly.

In January 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Army where he served until October 1945 as a medical technician in the European Theater.

On August 11, 1943, he married Irene Rusch in Brownwood, TX where he was stationed at Fort Hood. To this union, four children were born: Jacque, Delbert, Charlene and Jill. Upon his discharge from service, they established their home on a farm in Seneca Township. They moved to several other rented farms before building their own home on the farm site owned by his father in Latham Township.

John and Irene continued to farm in Latham Township until failing health prevented active participation in 1987. They continued to live at their farm home until April 1995 when they moved to Faulkton and purchased a home.

John held various township and church offices. He served on the County School Board during the reorganizational period, and served as a County Commissioner. He was a member of the United Methodist Church in Seneca and Faulkton, the IOOF Lodge in Seneca and Faulkton for fifty plus years. He was an avid reader, liked to play cards, garden, watch old classic movies, and enjoyed his family and friends.

John’s memory will be cherished by his wife, Irene of 66 years; three daughters, Jacque (Duane) Frisinger of Moorhead, MN, Charlene (Thomas) Haggar of Aberdeen, SD, and Jill (Gary) Henderson of Albuquerque, MN; seven grandchildren; nine great grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter; one daughter-in-law, Barbara Cooper of Sioux Falls, SD; one brother, Bill Cooper of Harker Heights, TX; and two sisters, Grace (Edwin) Bellack of Faulkton, SD and Margaretta (Lyle) Schuelke of La Porte, IN.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Delbert; one sister, Joanne Cooper Fahrni; one brother, Max Cooper, one granddaughter, Angela Cooper Powers; and one son-in-law, Stan Wahlen.

Luce Funeral Home of Faulkton has been entrusted with Jack's arrangements.

MINSITER
Pastor Paul Smith

CASKETBEARERS
Grandchildren
Dawn & Chris Cantler
Trevor & Kari Cooper
Teresa & Charles Burgess
Elizabeth & Jared Hoffman
Bret & Kim Haggar
Jessica & Erik Hustad
Caron & Michael Ferrin

HONORARY CASKETBEARERS
 Great & Great Great Grandchildren
Chase & Sydney Cantler
Sarah Powers
Will Hoffman
Yana & Cooper Burgess
Zachary, Emily & Madison Wahlen
Kirstin Cantler

USHERS
Bob Cooper
Gene Herman

ORGANIST
Cheryl Tisher

QUARTET
Joel Melius
Ryan Melius
Marilyn Hadrick
Cheryl Bowar
     "My God and I"
     "One Day At A Time"

CONGREGATIONAL HYMN
"How Great Thou Art"

INTERMENT
Faulkton Cemetery