Merle Cooper

MERLE E. COOPER

Cedar Rapids

Merle Emmet Cooper, 86, of Cedar Rapids, passed away at Heritage Nursing and Rehab Center in Cedar Rapids under the care of Mercy Hospice Care.

A memorial gathering will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, July 19, at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home in Cedar Rapids.

Merle was born Aug. 6, 1929, to Orla and Freet Cooper in rural Gladbrook, Iowa. He was united in marriage to Marlene Meier on Dec. 29, 1951, at Salem Methodist Church in Cedar Rapids. He farmed for a few years in rural Garwin before working for Nash Finch as a truck driver, retiring in 1997.

Merle enjoyed camping, traveling and spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Those left to cherish Merle's memory are his wife, Marlene, of 64 years; two daughters, Sherie (Gayne) Darrow of Cedar Rapids and Cindy Claus of Corpus Christi, Texas; four grandchildren, Gayne Darrow Jr. of Cedar Rapids, Sonya Darrow of Prague, Czech Republic, Melissa Najera of Corpus Christi and Bryan Claus Sr. of Corpus Christi; four great-grandchildren, Nicholas Jr., Alijah, Malen Najera and Bryan Claus Jr.; one brother, Wilmer (Darlene) Cooper of Eldridge; two sisters, Verna Stamp of Garwin and Marilou Schreck of Arvada, Colo.; sisters-in-law, Glenda Cooper of Minnesota and Virginia Cooper of Colorado; and brother-in-law, Murle McCreary of Toledo.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Eva Stamp and Ellen McCreary; two brothers, Kenneth Cooper and Rolland Cooper; brothers-in-law, Leon and Bill Stamp and Gene Schreck; and son-in-law, Russ Claus.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.