Donald G. Cooper, 83, of East Troy, passed away Jan. 4, 2021, at his home with his loving family by his side. He was born on Oct. 14, 1937 in Atlanta, Wisconsin, to Earl and Ella (Muth) Cooper.
He grew up in the Milwaukee area and graduated from Cudahy High School in 1956. Don was the youngest of 8 children and was very close with his siblings throughout his life.
He married Joan Majewski on Aug. 29, 1959, at Grace Presbyterian Church in Milwaukee and the two would go on to enjoy 61 years of marriage together. God blessed Donald and Joan’s union with five loving children.
Don worked as a piledriver for Edward E. Gillen Company of Milwaukee for the majority of his career. He worked very hard and always made sure that his wife and children were well taken care of.
Don was a man of character and did things the right way; he never cut corners or compromised in anything, big or small. He was a quiet man until he got to know you and then he had a great sense of humor. He enjoyed spending time with family, friends and neighbors.
One of his favorite subjects to chat about was farming. Don was a farmer at heart and for many years had a couple of cows or other farm animals grazing around the barn. He also had a creative side and was very skilled with his hands; he and Joan built the family home and barn and did most of the work themselves. He made beautiful cabinetry and he took up rock jewelry making as a hobby in his retirement.
Don and Joan loved spending their winters with cherished friends in their Texas “home away from home.” Above all else in Don’s life was his family. Over the last year, Don, his wife and children would gather for a family meal every Sunday evening and spend time together laughing, visiting and making wonderful memories. Don will be greatly missed by those he leaves behind.
He is survived by his loving wife, Joan; children, Christine (Edward) Gibbons, Linda, Steven (Dannielle), Donna (John) Repka and Timothy; grandchildren, Joseph (Kristin) Semo, Angelina (Holland) Rittmann, Zachary Cooper, Raquel Cooper, Richard Gibbons, Carli Repka, John “JJ” Repka, Kalli Marten, and Lane Gratz; and one great-grandchild, Alice Rose Semo. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and seven siblings.
Memorials in Donald’s honor may be made to the Little Prairie United Methodist Church of Little Prairie.
Services were Jan. 9, the Gibson Family Funeral Home in Palmyra. The Rev. Duane Goetsch officiated. Don will be laid to rest in Little Prairie Cemetery in Little Prairie, at a later date.
To leave online condolences, visit gibsonfuneral.com.
