Edwin Arthur “Art” Cooper, 76, of Newton died Thursday, July 11, 2019, at Wesley Life Park Centre in Newton. A funeral service was held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, July 16, at Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory, Newton. In lieu of flowers, memorials to First Lutheran Church, Wesley Life Hospice, or St. Nick’s Christmas Club may be left at the funeral home.
Art, the son of Sylvester “Bud” and Marvel Lorraine (Meade) Cooper, was born Jan. 22, 1943, in Newton. He was baptized at First Lutheran Church in Newton. Art was united in marriage with Ramona M. Vanden Hoek on Oct. 16, 1999, at his uncle and aunt’s (Edwin and Karen Meade) home in rural Newton. He had previously been married to Marlene K. Omodt on July 2, 1966, in Gowrie. They had two sons, Jason A. Cooper and Matthew T. Cooper.
Art graduated from Newton High School. He was confirmed and later became a member of First Lutheran Church. Art served his country in the U.S. Army during Vietnam. After returning from the service, Art took many night classes to further his career and became a senior engineer at Maytag Company, Newton Laundry Facility. He retired from Maytag after being employed 41 years. Art enjoyed visiting with his children, stepchildren, and step-grandchildren. He also liked wood working, reading, and going on short trips. Art was a very thoughtful and loving husband.
Those left to honor Art’s memory are his wife, Ramona; his sons: Jason A. Cooper of Seattle, WA, and Matthew T. Cooper of Minneapolis, MN; stepchildren: Matthew J. (Melinda) Brouwer of Gainesville, GA, and Christina D. (Leigh) Downing of Waukee; step-grandchildren: Caleb Brouwer, Madeline Brouwer, Grace Brouwer, Leah Brouwer, Elizabeth Dykstra, Abagail Dykstra, McKala Downing, Ian Downing, and Mya Downing; his sister, Judith K. “Kay” Millsap; and sisters-in-law, W. June Ver Woert, Marlene J. (Harvey) Beyer, E. Eleanor (Gene) Jansen, and Tena Vanden Hoek; and brother-in-law, Gerald (Lynda) Vanden Hoek.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister-in-law, Leona W. Brandhof; brothers-in-law, William J. Vanden Hoek, Edward Brandhof, Roxie Ver Woert, Vernon Vanden Hoek, and Thomas W. Millsap; and a niece, Traci L. Alcantar.
