Garold Cooper
Jerseyville | Save
Garold “Gary” Cooper, 79, passed away at 11:25 pm Saturday, December 10, 2011 at St. Anthony’s Health Center in Alton.
He was born on December 7, 1932 in Augusta, KS the son of Henry W. Cooper & Wilma (Holt) Cooper Leahew.
He married JoAnn Polk on June 10, 1955 in Shawnee, Oklahoma. She survives.
He served in the Air Force and was stationed at Anchorage, Alaska. After serving in the military, he attended Oklahoma Baptist University and after graduation he ministered at Bazine, KS. During his tenure at Bazine, KS he attended Central Baptist Theological seminary. After graduating from seminary he ministered at numerous churches in Kansas, Iowa and Illinois.
Gary loved telling jokes, fishing, pheasant hunting, gardening, writing (which he recently completed a children’s book), but most of all his family and especially grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He never met a stranger and will be missed by all. Through the years he has touched the lives of many people. Even though he was going thru a difficult time in his own life, he always had time to help others.
He is survived by his wife, JoAnn Cooper of Jerseyville, one son and daughter-in-law, Roger & Connie Cooper of Kane, IL; one daughter, Sharon Cooper of Waco, TX; four grandchildren and spouses, Bradley Cooper, Amy & Rick Gillis, Carrie & Mike Margherio, and Emily & Jeff Turnbough, eight great-grandchildren, Caitlyn Dixon, Sydney Gillis, Morgan & Drew Margherio, Cooper Gillis, and Hayley, Josh and Drew Turnbough; five brothers and three sisters-in-law, Robert & Karlene Cooper, Richard & Janice Cooper, James & Ann Cooper, Joe Leahew and Jerry Leahew; three sisters and brothers-in-law, Dorothy (Cooper) & Bill Shutter, Judy (Leahew) & Henry Bruhn Joveta & Kevin Holt; one uncle, Merle Cooper and one aunt, Naomi Matthews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Nancy Burrup and Janice Leahew.
In celebration of his life, visitation will be from 4 to 8 pm Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at the First Baptist Church in Jerseyville where funeral services will be held at 10 am Wednesday, December 14, 2011 with Rev. Brent Meyer and Rev. Ed Haun officiating.
Burial will follow at Rose Lawn Memory Gardens in Bethalto.
Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church in Jerseyville or to the Kane Baptist Church Youth Group.
Elias, Kallal & Schaaf Funeral Home in Bethalto is in charge of arrangements.
Elias, Kallal & Schaaf Funeral Home
