- Date Of Birth: October 12, 1926
- Date Of Death: July 31, 2016
- State: Iowa
Aletha Jean Cooper, known to all as Jean, passed away July 31, 2016, at the age of 89, in her home at Brookdale Senior Living in Rockford, Illinois.
Jean was a school teacher for over 40 years. She was very passionate about teaching and loved to be around kids. She had her first teaching assignment at Victory country school in Russell, Iowa. She taught at a few other country schools in rural southern Iowa. In fact, school is where she met and then married the love of her life, James “Jim” Cooper on May 28, 1949. They were blessed to celebrate over 64 years together. After they were married, Jean attended Drake University during the summers to obtain her teaching degree and then began teaching in public school.
Her longest teaching post was at Van Allen Elementary in Chariton, Iowa, where she taught 3rd and 5th grades from 1965 to 1987. In 1987 she retired from teaching and went to work with her husband at the Iowa State House of Representatives in Des Moines, Iowa while he was serving as Representative for District 67.
Jim and Jean were avid campers. They joined the Red Haw Campers in 1980 and enjoyed many camping trips including all the good times they had spent camping and working at the Iowa State Fair. They also enjoyed travelling and spent many winters in Apache Junction, Arizona.
Jean was preceded in death by her parents, husband James W.
The family would like to thank all the medical professionals and staff at Brookdale Senior Living and with Heartland Hospice in Rockford, Illinois who cared for Jean and supported her family during her passing.
