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Wilmer "Bill" Cooper
Wilmer "Bill" Cooper, 85, of Salem, passed away peacefully at his home in Salem on May 4, 2016. There will be a memorial service at 11 am on Friday at Sun Prairie Baptist Church, rural Salem.
Wilmer Cooper was born February 17, 1931 to Rev. Earl Lee and Verna (Hoffman) Cooper. He grew up in Chicago, IL. He attended DeVry University and then owned several businesses in Chicago, IL and two in Elgin, IL for 30+ years. Bill was an avid hunter, farmer and fisherman. He traveled many places including Costa Rica, Alaska, Canada, Mexico, St. Thomas, and Puerto Rico as well as the entire United States. He also took numerous cruises with his first wife, LaVern.
On one of his trips to a field trial, which his dog won, he met two doctors from SD and they talked him into coming to SD. He decided to give it a try and flew his plane into Freeman, SD and landed it in a bean field where he was met by farmers Kenny Kafman, Merle Miller, and Cleon Graber. He was a SD fan from then on and acquired a farm. When LaVern died he moved to SD where he lived in Salem, a town he truly loved and the only place he wanted to spend the rest of his life.
Bill accomplished many things in his life, including being president of the Wildlife Club, an active member of Ducks Unlimited, Pro Pheasants, and Pheasants Forever. He also served as the SD state instructor on hunter's safety and helped in many youth hunting and fishing activities. He was an expert dog trainer and won many trophies in dog shows and trials. He lived for a few years with his dogs and then while traveling in 2005 he met a Southern belle, Thelma. She married him and made his later years of life better.
Bill is survived by: his wife, Thelma Hensley Cooper of Salem; a son, Earl Lee (Marie) Cooper of Phoenix, AZ; a daughter, Kari Lee (Ron) McKee; five grandchildren, Dr. Nicole (Adam) Thomas of Scottsdale, AZ, Kevin (Joaltcris) Cooper of Phoenix, AZ, Kyle Cooper of Chicago, IL, Kristi Lee McKee of Park Ridge, IL, and Ronald Robert McKee of Carolina Beach, NC; 4 great-grandchildren, Emma, Lily Anna, and Alexander Thomas and Miles Ryan Patrick McKee. He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Anna Paige Cooper Frye, and his first wife, LaVern Splatt.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Sponsored by Kinzley Funeral Home - Salem.
3 Entries
You will be missed greatly. I will always keep your memory close and South Dakota will always be a special memory for me. Thank you for being a God parent to my son.
Love you always,
Your Niece,
Nancy
Nancy Rhode
Family
May 10, 2016
Uncle Will, you will be missed. I always thought of you as my 2nd Father. How I loved spending summers in Park Ridge with you and Aunt Daisy. You always treated me like part of the family too. Always adding my name to the pool pass where I had so much fun. Ken and I loved when you would come down to Florida in the winter months to spend about 6 weeks with us. How Ken looked forward to your visits and fishing with you. We had a great time. R.I.P. my Dear Uncle.
Donna and Ken Kappa
Family
May 9, 2016
Uncle Will you will be missed. RIP
Shari & Dave Lucas
May 8, 2016
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