"Craig and Family, I wanted send my deepest sympathy to you and your family on the passing of your mother. You are in my thoughts and prayers this day. Losing your parents is a very difficult thing in life, somehow it just doesn't seem right that as children we should have to say good-bye. But I have found that my mom's spirit is still within me when I go through my daily life. The things she taught me as a child are still with me forever. Trust in God these difficult days. God Bless, Carla Cain Failor"
In loving memory of
Joyce M. Cooper
July 7, 2007
Joyce M. Cooper was born December 5, 1928 in Le Mars, Iowa, to Joseph and Mary (Meuller) Bohlke. Joyce grew up in the Le Mars, Remsen and Oyens, Iowa area. She graduated from Le Mars High School in 1946. Following high school she attended Business College in Sioux City, Iowa. She was married to Don L. Cooper on August 27, 1952 in Oyens, Iowa at St. Catherine's Catholic Church. After they were married the couple resided in Shenandoah, Iowa.
While in Shenandoah, Joyce worked for the Iowa State Department of Transportation in the driver licensing division and did seasonal work at Henry Fields Nursery. She was active in St. Mary's Catholic Church in Shenandoah and Avoca, as well as being a member of the Red Hat Society. Joyce loved reading, weaving rugs and placemats, keeping up on current events by reading the paper, reading cookbooks and finding new recipes. She especially loved spending time with her family.
Joyce is preceded in death by her husband, Don L. Cooper; brother, Kenneth Bohlke and Teressa Berndt. She is survived by her son, Craig Cooper and wife Jackie of Thornton, CO; daughter, Laurie Berndt and husband Morris of Avoca, IA; seven grandchildren, Bryan Berndt of Avoca, Aaron Berndt of Chicago, IL, Andrea Berndt of Phoenix, AZ, Stephen Berndt of Iowa City, and Patricia Berndt of Avoca, and Maria and Kyle Cooper of Thornton, CO; great granddaughter, Grayce Berndt of Iowa City; three brothers, Wayne Bohlke of Lesueur, MN, David Bohlke of Minneapolis, MN and Glen Bohlke of Virginia Beach, VA; other relatives and many friends.
Tributes
"The former Deaf Club of Shenandoah Iowa want to share in the family of Joyce Copper sympathy Joyce use to be part of our deaf club when we first had it at the shenandoah library basement and she was brought there by her friend Shirely Perkins a very freindly lady in the wheelchair thou she couldnt hear much of what was going on but she had a great smile on her face and enjoy watching us talk and laugh and she love the snacks food that each member bring to the meeting i remember her living in the apt on thomas st in Holmes apt one day i stop in to see her cause i find out she live there and that time she had a colear implant and she shut the door in my face but i forgive her she just didnt want to be bother by some one who is deaf i know what it feel like being deaf and you want your own little world of freedom but she will never be forgetten we will surely missed her and remember her sweet smile.from her past former deaf friends from shenandoah and from Red oak area Miss terry ann schaper-Mr&mrs.John&Wilma Sparks-Mr.&Mrs douglas and Gwyne Madsen-James Hale-Darwin Snow Jr-Marion Sheldon-Red Oak Bill&Kelly Booth-Charles Bowman"
"I'm so grateful that I got to spend some time with Aunt Joyce before she passed away. As the oldest daughter of a Bohlke family, I was always able to relate to Joyce in a special way and the "Aunt Joyce Stories" were always my favorite to hear growing up. I loved her and I'm thinking of you all during this difficult time. Please let me know if there is anything I can do from afar for anyone. She and Don raised a special family and I'm sure you all are a great comfort to each other during this time. "