Dorathea M Cooper Obituary (1915

In Loving Memory OfDorathea M. CooperDorathea Maria (Welsch) Cooper was born September 5, 1915 on a farm near Western, Nebraska, to John and Alvina (Timm) Welsch and was the oldest of five children. She passed away Sunday, March 14, 2010, at Sunrise Country Manor near Milford at the age of 94 years, 6 months and 9 days. As a young girl she attended Star Country School in Saline County and later graduated from Crete High School with the class of 1933. She earned her teaching certificate through the Normal Training in high school and continued her education by attending summer classes at Peru State College. Dorathea taught at two rural schools in Saline County.On June 3, 1937, Dorathea was united in marriage to Robert W. Cooper at West Blue Evangelical Reformed Church, south of Milford. To this union four daughters and a son were born. Robert and Dorathea made their home on a farm east and south of Milford where they farmed with horses and raised cows and champion hogs. Eventually they obtained a tractor that was used primarily for the plowing as they continued to pick corn by hand with a horse drawn shucking wagon until the 1950's. Dorathea and Robert each operated their own matching John Deere tractors and were in a farming partnership for 67 years. Farm, family and faith were very important to Dorathea. She was active in her children's activities participating as a 4-H leader, a Sunday School teacher and youth group leader. In addition to sewing for the family, she made a quilt for each of her children. Dorathea followed the school activities of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and attended many band, vocal music and athletic events. She was a long-time member of the Milford United Methodist Church and recently received a certificate for 80-years of service to her church. Dorathea was active in the Women's Society of Christian Service and later in the United Methodist Women. She also was a member of a local gardening club and enjoyed raising vegetables and flowers. Dorathea is survived by her children and their spouses, Patricia A. and Tony Brown, Fremont; Carol J. and Gary Sherman, Ceresco; Janet M. and Gary Skinner, Seattle, WA; Roberta L. Cooper and Clyde Lawhon, Sequim, WA; John W. and Lee Anne Cooper, Kearney; eight grandchildren and their spouses, Troy L. and Susan Kash-Brown, Eric A. and Lara Brown, and Jerry D. Sherman, all of Lincoln; Rebecca (Skinner) and Mark S. Good, Seattle; Kathryn M. Skinner and husband Chris Cooper, Tucson, AZ; David T. and Valerie Cooper, Waverly; John R. Cooper, Omaha; and Daniel R. Cooper, Lincoln; seven great-grandchildren, Sara M. and Leah D. Kash-Brown, Lincoln; Alex J. Brown, Lincoln; Victoria A., Oktober T. and Brennan E. Cooper, Waverly; Josephine Lily Good, Seattle; brother and sister-in-law, Eugene and Louise Welsch, Milford; sister-in-law, Fern Cooper, Tyler, TX, nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert, in 2005. Her parents, brothers, Samuel and Lowell Welsch and sister, Idala Aholt, also preceded her in death.Services will be at 2:00 pm on Saturday, March 20, 2010, at the Milford United Methodist Church, with Rev. Michael Curd officiating. Interment is in Blue Mound Cemetery, Milford. Visitation is 1-6pm on Thursday; 9am-8pm on Friday (with the family greeting relatives and friends from 6-8pm); 9am-noon Saturday at Lauber-Moore Funeral Home, Milford, and prior to the services from 1-2pm at the church. Memorials have been established to the United Methodist Church. Pallbearers are her grandchildren, Troy L. Brown, Eric A. Brown, Jerry D. Sherman, Rebecca Good, Kathryn M. Skinner, David T. Cooper, John R. Cooper and Daniel R. Cooper. Condolences may be sent to the family at laubermoore.com.