Albert Cooper, age 87, passed away Monday, June 2, 1997, at the Kanawha
Community Home.
Albert, the son of John and Johanna (Beninga) Cooper, was born August 19, 1909,
on a farm near Kanahwa. He graduated from Kanawha High School in 1927.
He was united in marriage to Margaret Smith on September 1, 1936, in Kanawha,
where they resided until her death on June 11, 1973. On May 7, 1977, he was
married to Martha Whitney VanderPloeg in Britt, Iowa.
His business activities began with the Reiken Ford Motors. Then he operated the
Local John Deere dealership until 1947, when he entered into an insurance
career. He was a partner in the Knudsen & Cooper Agency until 1962, when his
son Larry joined him with the Cooper Agency until his retirement.
Albert held a great love for his church, the Kanawha Christian Reformed Church
and a mission outreach with the Gideons. He enjoyed promoting the community,
assisted in the development of Dordt College, the Kanawha Christian School, the
Kanawha Community Home, served the Hancock Mutual Insurance Association and many
others.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Margaret, two sisters and six
brothers.
Albert is survived by his wife, Martha of Britt; his four children, Anita and
her husband, David Brink of Grand Rapids, Michigan; Larry and his wife, Janice
of Kanawha; Bonnie and her husband, James Geerdes of Wellsburg; Terry and his
wife, Lynn of Thatcher, Arizona; fourteen grandchildren; sixteen
great-grandchildren; two sisters, Gertie Knoll and her husband, Clayton of Mason
City; Grace Hole of Mason City; one brother, William and his wife, Muriel of
Clear Lake; four step-children, fourteen step-grandchildren and six
step-great-grandchildren.