Thomas and Ruth Cooper

Thomas Walter Cooper Jr

Thomas Walter Cooper Jr., age 95, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 15th, 2022. He was born April 8th, 1926, in Jacksonville, IL, son of the late Thomas Sr. and Bessie Cooper.

All that knew Tom, knew him as having quick wit and a caring outgoing personality. Tom was a devoted man of faith as a member of the St. Paul’s Methodist Church in Green Bay, WI where he sang in the choir many years. Singing and music were a large part of his life. He was also active in the Shriners where he played the trumpet and piano. Tom held a love for animals, particularly cats.

Shortly after high school graduation, Tom served in the Navy and saw active duty during World War II. He served in the Pacific Theater aboard multiple Merchant Marine ships.

On June 28th, 1947, Tom married his high school sweetheart Ruth Pearson. Ruth passed away on June 25th, 2021, just 3 days prior to their 74th wedding anniversary.

After discharge from the Navy Tom attended North Central College in Naperville Ill. After graduation he began a career leading and managing sewage treatment facilities, where he remained until retirement in 1989. A highlight of his career was being selected to work on the team completing construction of the Panama Canal.

After retirement, Tom enjoyed staying busy with multiple woodworking projects and he also built a kit car, a 1923 Mercedes Benz Gazelle that he enjoyed driving around town. Most importantly, Tom loved his family and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Tom is preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife Ruth of 73 years, and two children Jimmy and Dina.

Ruth Adella Cooper

Ruth Adella Cooper, age 94, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 25th, 2021. She was born December 15th, 1926, in St. Charles, IL, daughter of the late Andrew and Emma Pearson.

All that knew Ruth loved her spunky and outgoing personality. Ruth was a devoted woman of faith as a member of the St. Paul’s Methodist Church in Green Bay, WI. She spent many hours volunteering her services and loved helping with the treasury duties.

During high school Ruth worked as a waitress at a local soda shop where she met her husband to be Tom Cooper. On June 28th, 1947, Ruth married Tom. They remained devoted to each other for 73 years of marriage.

Ruth was blessed to stay home and raise five children. She was an outstanding cook, known for her amazing chocolate chip cookies and “old fashioned” popcorn. She loved cooking for her family and anyone else who happened to drop in, which was a common occurrence.

Ruth held a strong appreciation of music and enjoyed attending concerts with her family and friends, especially when watching her children perform. She loved to play games including card games, board games, ping pong, bowling, and eventually online games. She also loved watching Chicago Cubs baseball and the Green Bay Packers…. especially Brett Favre!

Ruth is preceded in death by her parents, twenty siblings, and children Jimmy and Dina.

Tom and Ruth are survived by their children, Richard (Susan) Cooper, David (Kelly DeHaven) Cooper, and Rebecca (Dan) Lobe; grandchildren Amy (Brian) Smith, Scott Welsh, Emily (Nick) Skeriotis, Lydia Cooper, Joseph (Olivia) Cooper, Stacy (Eric) Bailey, Andrew (Carrie) Cooper, Kara Cooper (Fiancé- Josh Keefer), Beatrice Cooper, Nolan Cooper (Chelsey), Miles (Abby) Cooper, Witt Cooper, Skye Cooper, Brandon (Courtney) Schreiber, and Tristan Lobe; great grandchildren Logan, Justine, Aaron, Gideon, Christopher, Alana, Joseph Jr., Samuel, Amos, Holland, Bennett, Connor, and Madelynn.

A memorial service will take place on Saturday, January 29, 2022, at 1:00 PM at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 341 Wilson Ave., Green Bay, WI 54303.

The service will be live streamed at https://www.stpaulsumcgb.com/blog/Cooper-Memorial-Service

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Paws for Purple Hearts, 10201 Old Redwood Hwy, Penngrove, CA 94951, https://pawsforpurplehearts.org/donate/ or Puppies Behind Bars, 263 West 38th St., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10018, www.puppiesbehindbars.com 

Services in care of The Billow Funeral Homes and Crematory, Falls Chapel, 1907 23rd Street, Cuyahoga Falls, OH  44223.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.