Gary Cooper

Thursday, May 20, 2021 4:00 pm

Gary L. Cooper, 72, recently of Decorah, and longtime resident of Waukon, Iowa, died Monday, Dec. 7, 2020 at Pinnacle Care Initiatives in Cedar Falls, of COVID-19.

Friends and family are invited to attended military graveside rites and a celebration of life for Gary on Saturday, May 29, at 10 a.m. at Oakland Cemetery in Waukon. Following the graveside services join the family for rolls and refreshments at the City Club in Waukon. Memorials may be made to Waukon Booster Club for girls athletics or to the VFW in Waukon. They may sent to his sister Anaruth Synder 1523 Downing Ave. Waterloo, IA 50701. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is assisting the family.

Gary Lynn Cooper was born April 25, 1948 in Postville, to Hubert W. Cooper and Ruth (Kugel) Cooper. He grew up on farms near Postville, Lansing, and Waukon. He was confirmed at First Presbyterian Church, and attended schools in Church, IA and Waukon, IA, graduating in 1966. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was honorably discharged in 1970, serving on the aircraft carriers USS Yorktown and USS Intrepid. One memorable experience was picking up astronauts from an Apollo mission. After the navy, Gary became a heavy equipment operator for road construction, beginning with Holland in Decorah and ending with McAnitch in Norwalk. He married Erlyss Burroughs and they later divorced. They ran the Sportsman Bar in Rossville.

Gary enjoyed hunting and fishing (especially ice fishing), playing euchre, attending girls’ basketball and softball games, watching the Green Bay Packers, dining out at various restaurants, and watching old westerns on TV.

Gary is survived by his sisters: Anaruth Snyder of Waterloo, and LaVerna Benzkofer of Houston, Texas; six nieces and nephews; 11 great-nieces and nephews; and significant other Marcia Solem of Decorah. Gary was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, and his brother-in-law Garry Snyder.