Jerry K Cooper

Mr. Jerry K Cooper, son of the late Kenneth K. Cooper and Mary Louise Hull Cooper was born November 6, 1944 in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. He attended public schools in Indiana, New Jersey and New York State and was a graduate of Norwich University in Vermont as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.

He began his career as a Mechanical Engineer and worked for the G.E. Defense plant in Utica, New York, working on the Chaparral Missile Project. This is where he met Ms. Ellen Marie House. The couple were united in holy matrimony in February of 1968. This union was blessed with two daughters, Carrie and Shelly.

After a year at G.E., Mr. Cooper was called to active duty. He served one year in Washington, D.C. as the liaison between the Army and the Navy on the CMP. He was then assigned to Cam Ranh Bay, Viet Nam where he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant and worked as a member of the Corp of Engineers. After his honorable discharge, he served in the reserves for seven years.  In 1972, he started his own construction company and began building homes, townhomes and then commercial buildings. Mr. Cooper’s largest commercial project, Patuxent Place, won the 1989 Pride of Prince George’s Award for the Washington, D.C. area beating larger builders, like Marriott.

Mr. Cooper was an active member of Chapelgate Presbyterian Church where he served as Deacon for many years and served on the church’s building committee. Mr. Cooper had a servant’s heart and was happiest when he could help someone. Mr. Cooper assisted his wife in fostering babies in transition for Bethany Christian Services. He loved those little, precious babies and helped in every aspect of their care for three years.

In addition to boating, fishing, hunting and woodworking, Mr. Cooper loved making things. He was often referred to as the original MacGyver and Super Cooper. He was a man of great talent, skill, wisdom, kindness, gentleness, strength, unwavering positivity and was happiest loving his family.

Mr. Cooper valiantly fought the ravages of Alzheimer’s for twelve years. While he ultimately forgot everything and everyone, he was able to express his love for his children and wife until the end.

His life well-lived will forever be cherished in the lives of his children: Mrs. Carrie Ann (Scott) Ward of Allen, TX and Shelly Cooper Frey of Laurel, MD; his ten grandchildren, Tyler (Sarah), Emily and Ashley Ward, Hunter Ruiz; Elijah, Zachary, Sierra, Cooper, Brianna and Mariah Frey; one great grandson, Jameson Ward; sister, Hope (Jim) Dickelman who preceded him in death; sister, Judy (Bill) Simon of St. Louis, MO; sister’s-in-law, Barbara Jean (John) Ninnemann of Springfield, IL, Kathleen (Pauli) Lehtonen of  Finland and Cynthia (Dale) Maury of Herkimer, NY; a host of devoted nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.

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