Memorial
Merle Emmett Cooper, 86, of Cedar Rapids, passed away on Thursday, July 14, 2016 at Heritage Nursing and Rehab Center in Cedar Rapids, under the care of Mercy Hospice Care.
A memorial gathering will be held at 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm, at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home in Cedar Rapids, on Tuesday, July 19, 2016.
Merle was born on August 6, 1929, to Orla and Lula Freet-Cooper in rural Gladbrook, Iowa. He was united in marriage to Marlene Meier on December 29, 1951, at Salem Methodist Church in Cedar Rapids. He farmed for a few years in rural Garwin before working for Nash-Finch as a truck driver, retiring in 1997.
Merle enjoyed camping, traveling and spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Those left to cherish Merle’s memory are his wife, Marlene of 64 years, two daughters, Sherie (Gayne) Darrow of Cedar Rapids, Cindy Claus of Corpus Christi, Texas; four grandchildren, Gayne Darrow Jr. of Cedar Rapids, Sonya Darrow of Prague, Czech Republic; Melissa Najera of Corpus Christi, Texas; Bryan Claus, Sr. of Corpus Christi, Texas; four great-grandchildren, Nicholas, Jr., Alijah, Malen Najera and Bryan Claus, Jr.; one brother, Wilmer (Darlene) Cooper of Eldridge; two sisters, Verna Stamp of Garwin; Marilou Schreck of Arvada, Colorado; sister-in-laws, Glenda Cooper of Minnesota, Virginia Cooper of Colorado; brother-in-law, Murle McCreary of Toledo.
He is preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Eva Stamp and Ellen McCreary, two brothers, Kenneth Cooper and Rolland Cooper, brother-in-laws, Leon and Bill Stamp and Gene Schreck, son-in-law, Russ Claus.
Memorials may be directed to the family.