Donald L. Cooper

Donald L. Cooper, Sr., 71, of Coloma died Wednesday, January 25, 2006, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 2:00 P.M., Sunday, January 29, 2006, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 9193 Cleveland Ave., Baroda, with Rev. Kenneth Babcock and Rev. Larry Olson officiating. Burial will be Monday at Lincoln Township Cemetery, Stevensville. Friends may call on the family from 4:00 – 7:00 P.M., Saturday at Kerley-Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorial donations may be made in Don’s name to the Humane Society, Forgotten Man’s Ministry, or St. John’s Lutheran Church. Those wishing to send a condolence message in the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com Don was born October 15, 1934 in Three Rivers, Michigan to Albert and Bertha (Bixler) Cooper. He served his country in the U.S. Army from 1956-1958. Don was an entrepreneur. He not only worked for John Piedt & Sons and the Gas Company, but he was owner of The Antique Shop in Watervliet, The Fireplace Shop in Stevensville, and Cooper Carlson Heating from 1975 until his retirement in 2000. Don enjoyed the outdoors, gardening on the farm, remodeling, watching college basketball – especially Duke University. He loved delivering firewood in his 1995 Chevy pick-up with nearly 500,000 miles on it. He was always looking for the opportunity to be helpful. Don will always be remembered as a kind and loving husband, father, grandfather and brother. Don is survived by his wife Mary; his daughter Lyn (Charles) Kinnison; her children Casey King and Brady Kinnison; his son Donald L. Cooper, Jr.; his children Amy (Cooper) Smith, Cori, and Michael Cooper; great-grandchild Lillian Smith; step-sons Daniel (Angelene) Conkin, Jason (Jeanne) Conkin; step-grandchild Elizabeth Conkin; brother Frederick (Donna) Cooper; sister-in-law Jamie Walter; step-nephews David Walter and Lucas Walter; father-in-law and mother-in-law James (Betty) Lull; and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents; sister Betty Gremore, and brothers Albert and Charles Cooper.