Dennis "Coop" Cooper

A man of great determination, strong will, and a drive to succeed, Dennis Cooper, "Coop" as he was known by many, made a lasting impact in the world around him. He could be strict at times and liked to poke fun with and tease his family and friends, yet he was also the sort of man who would do much for those he loved. Although life was not always easy for him, Dennis made the best of things while treasuring the family who was his greatest source of pride and joy. We could always count on Coop to tell us like he saw it, even if he did so rather bluntly, but he also made life so much fun, too. He will be deeply missed while the special memories he leaves behind will be a lasting treasure.

It was as our nation was making the shift from being a nation at war to a nation at peace with the end of WWII in 1945 that the baby boom began. Manufacturing was again able to focus on producing the goods they made prior to the war while rationing on common goods became a thing of the past. Nestled within this vibrant time was the year 1947 that brought great joy to one young couple from Grand Rapids, Michigan, as they were pleased to announce the birth of their healthy baby boy on May 8th. Baby Dennis was the oldest of three children born to his parents, Richard and Mary “Teresa” (Troy) Cooper, and was raised in the family home on Herrick Street NE alongside his siblings, Karen and Paul.

Right from the start Dennis was a strong willed and responsible child, although he was known to get into his fair share of mischief from time to time. Working hard was part of his life from the time he got a paper route when he was just nine years old. In fact, Dennis always said he worked every day of his life from that point on. In addition to his paper route he caddied at Kent Country Club for a time. Coop also devoted himself to his studies as a student at St. Alphonsus Elementary School and later at Catholic Central High School.

After graduating from high school Coop went on to Aquinas College where he pursued a degree in accounting. With a love for baseball he received a scholarship and played first baseman on his school’s team. While in college he worked as a waiter at the Peninsular Club, taking orders and committing them to memory rather than being able to write them down. From then on it always baffled him when servers who were able to write orders down were still able to get them muddled up!

With his college education behind him Dennis secured employment at Rapistan and later at Leigh Products, working in the accounting and management departments at both jobs. He was a true numbers man at heart, and as a detail oriented person his work was a perfect fit.

Not to be forgotten during this time was the blossoming relationship Dennis shared with Dee Antvelink. After dating for a time the couple was married on April 4, 1970. Together they were blessed with three children: Jeannie, Kristi, and Brett. Although he worked hard in order to provide for his family, Coop was home when he needed to be. He taught all of his children to throw a ball and fish and he was there to cheer them on in their sporting events. The family enjoyed having short getaways at their cabin in Irons where Dennis liked fishing, building fires, and tubing down the river with his family. The Coopers also made priceless memories on a rafting trip to North Carolina. While there they also did some hiking and even came home with a cat!

In order to advance his career, Dennis took a couple of job transfers. These were usually to locations that were subsidiaries of Leigh Products that were in need of some attention before being sold. These transfers first took him to Youngstown, Ohio, where their family still enjoyed taking some time to get up to their cabin in Irons. Oftentimes they spent time there during the Christmas season and looked forward to going on a hike to find the perfect tree. Because Dee and Coop were a social couple they frequently enjoyed the company of their friends. While in Ohio they loved hosting a pig roast for Memorial Day, and they were also part of a gourmet club. Although his marriage ended in divorce in the nineties, Dennis was always grateful for the children he and Dee shared.

Dennis’s career later took him from Ohio to Florida where he worked at Window Component Manufacturing (WCM). After that company was ready to be sold he decided he was done moving and then purchased the company for himself. Although the long commute was something he wasn’t particularly fond of, he enjoyed running a business and truly gave it his all. In 2004 Coop sold his business and moved to his cabin in order to be closer to one of his daughters. Spending time with his grandchildren was always something he looked forward to.

Throughout his life Coop was a man of many interests. He enjoyed hunting, especially while living in Michigan and he always enjoyed fishing. Coop was a fantastic cook who loved being in the kitchen, and he was also gifted when it came to working with his hands. He loved building all sorts of things including an amazing wall unit for one of his homes and a ping pong table for his children. Dennis was a longtime member of the Masons and was a member of the Doric Lodge. When his health began declining he spent more time at home and discovered some great shows on television like The Sopranos and Lost, and he commonly recorded Tigers games to watch when they weren’t playing live. Dennis was also an avid reader who enjoyed mysteries and fictional thrillers.

The last few years found Coop in need of more medical care, so he spent some time living with his daughter. Much of his time during the past six months have been spent in and out of the hospital.

With so much love for his family and friends, Dennis "Coop" Cooper leaves behind a lasting imprint on the hearts of those around him. He worked hard to achieve great things and enjoyed the thrill of a challenge, too. Dennis will be deeply missed and fondly remembered.

Mr. Dennis R. Cooper, “Coop”, passed away February 14, 2012. He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Teresa Cooper. Dennis is survived by his children, Jeannie (James) Chastain, Kristi (Alberto Vazquez) Cooper, Brett Cooper; grandchildren Heather, Sean and Austin Chastain, Jessie (Logan) Wolfe, Ana and Javier Vazquez-Cooper; his former wife, Dee (Marv) Piccard; his sister Karen (Larry) Sowinski, and Paul Cooper and several nieces, nephews and great grandchildren. A service to celebrate Dennis’ life will be held on Friday at 4:30 PM at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home – Van Strien Creston Chapel, 1833 Plainfield NE where friends may visit with his family from 2:30 PM until the time of the service. To read more about Dennis’ life, to share a favorite memory or to sign the register book, please visit www.lifestorynet.com.