James E. Cooper

James E. Cooper age 85 of Laurel, Nebraska died on Monday, January 18, 2021 at the Providence Medical Center in Wayne, Nebraska following his fight with covid. A celebration of life will be on Thursday, January 21, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at the United Presbyterian Church in Laurel, Nebraska with the Rev. Charity Potter officiating. Burial will be at the Laurel cemetery with military rites by the Laurel American Legion Post 54 & the Laurel VFW Post 4504. Visitation will be on Thursday morning, at church, from 9:00 a.m. until service time. Face masks and social distancing are required at the visitation and funeral. You may watch a live stream of the celebration at www.facebook.com/WintzRay/live Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home in Laurel. Pallbearers will be grandchildren, Jarrod Brozek, Morgan Avery, McKenzie Brozek; niece, Caroline Westerhold, nephews, Tom Cooper and John Cooper. Honorary pallbearers will be granddaughter, Ali Goodyear; nephews, Brandon Meyer, Bruce Meyer; and friends, Ben Kneifl, John Kneifl, and Joe Johnson. James Eldon Cooper was born on January 6, 1936 in Hartington, NE to Bert and Vera (Larson) Cooper. He attended grade school in a small country school and then graduated from Laurel High School in 1953. Following high school, Jim was drafted into the U.S. Army where he then spent two years serving his country. Following his basic training, he was stationed in Germany. After his discharge from the Army, Jim resumed working on the farm near Hartington then to Coleridge to later move to Laurel to spend his last years there farming. Jim married Delila Bishop on February 9, 1958 in Maskell, Nebraska. They were blessed with three children, Lisa, Jan, and Shelley. Jim loved spending time with his family and friends telling his many stories of his life. He always seemed to have a quick recommendation to all he touched no matter what the subject matter discussed. Jim was a member of the United Presbyterian church in Laurel. He liked to hunt and tinker with engines or any mechanical challenge he could find when he had the chance. Left to honor his memory include his wife, Delila of Laurel; three daughters Lisa Goodyear of Sunnyvale, CA, Jan (Andy) Lux of Hubbard, NE, Shelley Brozek of Bartlett, NE; a brother Jack (Anita) Cooper of Ashland, NE; sister-in-law Jeanine (Dick) Stene of Beresford, SD. He will be missed by some of the most important people in his world – his nieces, nephews, and grandchildren. Jim was preceded in death by his parents Bert and Vera Cooper; a sister JeAnne Burg; sisters-in-law Sharon Meyer and Patti Peterson.