|
Visitation: Sunday, October 18, from
4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Williamsville United Methodist
Church
Service: Monday, October 19, at 10
a.m. at the church
Funeral home: Mott & Henning Funeral
Home, Athens
Obituary
John R. Cooper, age 99, of Williamsville, passed
away on October 13, 2015 at the Villa Health Care
East in Sherman.
John is survived by his son J. Roger (Joyce) Cooper
of Williamsville; a daughter Susan (Tom) Foran, of
Williamsville; four grandchildren; Jessie Cooper,
Justin (Kendra) Cooper, Janna (Cole) Johnson, and
Kevin (Jessica) Foran, and five great-grandchildren;
Emmalee Cooper, Zoie and Zaylee Cooper, and Grayson
and Palmer Foran; one sister-in-law, Carolyn
Casteel, as well as several nieces, nephews and
friends.
He is preceded in death by his wife Doris in 2001, a
brother; Robert Cooper, as well as both of his
parents. John married Doris Casteel on June 11, 1948
in Detroit, Illinois.
John was born April 4, 1916 in Williamsville, the
son of John and Emma Richardson Cooper.
He graduated from Williamsville High School in 1934.
He later graduated University of Illinois in 1938.
He spent four years in Pike County as the
Agriculture Instructor at New Canton and Griggsville
High Schools.
John’s teaching career was cut short when WWII broke
out. He served his country as an army officer for
the next four years. He was in Europe near the Elbe
River when that conflict ended. John was a recipient
of the Bronze Star Medal, Victory Medal, EAME
Theater Medal with two Bronze Stars and an American
Theater Medal. John returned to the farm in the
spring of 1946 and started farming with his parents
for the rest of his life. John was a lifelong member
of Williamsville United Methodist Church. He served
on the schoolboard for Williamsville School District
for several years. He belonged to the Sangamon
County Farm Bureau where he was later inducted to
the “Sangamon County Farmer Hall of Fame” in 2011.
Due to his hard work and dedication, his family farm
achieved the “Illinois Centennial Farm Status” in
2012. John was a great father, grandfather and
friend.
John’s family would like to thank the staff at
“Villa Health Care” Facilities of Sherman for their
dedication and loving care.
|
Visitation for John will be held on Sunday, October
18, 2015 from 4-7 p.m. at Williamsville United
Methodist Church. Funeral Services will be held on
Monday, October 19, 2015 at 10 a.m. at Williamsville
United Methodist Church.
Burial will be held at Walnut Hill Cemetery near
Williamsville where Military Honors will take place.
Rev. Dick Piscatelli will be officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to
Williamsville United Methodist Church.
Mott & Henning Funeral Home is assisting the Cooper
family.
On-line condolences
can be shared at
www.mottandhenning.com. |
