Gary Cooper

Monday, December 14, 2020 8:23 pm

Gary L. Cooper, 72, recently of Decorah, and longtime resident of Waukon, died Monday, Dec. 7, 2020 at Pinnacle Care Initiatives in Cedar Falls, IA, of Covid-19. There will be no services at this time, but there will be a celebration of life for Gary at a later date, with burial of ashes at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. 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, 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.H e 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, TX; 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. Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.