Janice Barbara Cooper
1938 - 2025
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Janice "Jan" Barbara Cooper (née Volk), beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend, passed away peacefully on September 28, 2025, at her exceptionally staffed care home in Folsom, California, at the age of 87.
Jan was born on August 28, 1938, in Aberdeen, South Dakota, to the late Joseph and Barbara Volk. She was the second eldest of four children and shared a close lifelong bond with her siblings and their spouses, Roy (Carol) Volk, Joann (Tom) Esser, and Cindy (Harry) Promes.
A graduate of Central High School in Aberdeen, Class of 1956, Jan carried with her the warmth of small-town values throughout her life. During high school, she met her first husband and the father of her children, Zeno Esser, Jr., who preceded her in death in 2004. They married in 1959 in Oakland, California. There, they built a full and busy life, raising their six wonderful children: Clinton (Nicole) Esser, Brian (Kari) Esser, Jerome Esser, Jeanne Torres, Charlene (Scot) Andrews, and Michele (Thomas) Anderson.
In 1985, Jan married Don Cooper in San Lorenzo, California. Don cared for Jan during her long illness, and he remained by her side with devotion and love throughout the 40 years they shared together.
Jan was known for her kind heart, sweet spirit, and quiet resilience. She found joy in the simple things—being with family, sharing stories of her past, playing solitaire, and offering a warm smile to everyone she met.
Her fondness for butterflies will be an enduring sign; each one that flutters by will forever whisper a warm remembrance of her beautiful soul now adorned with the eternal wings of Heaven.
Her deep love for her family was unwavering, and she was especially proud of her 14 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren, whose photos were prominently displayed on her refrigerator and coffee table.
She will be remembered for her grace, and the way she made those around her feel loved and valued. Her legacy lives on through her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and all those fortunate enough to have known her.
Jan was born on August 28, 1938, in Aberdeen, South Dakota, to the late Joseph and Barbara Volk. She was the second eldest of four children and shared a close lifelong bond with her siblings and their spouses, Roy (Carol) Volk, Joann (Tom) Esser, and Cindy (Harry) Promes.
A graduate of Central High School in Aberdeen, Class of 1956, Jan carried with her the warmth of small-town values throughout her life. During high school, she met her first husband and the father of her children, Zeno Esser, Jr., who preceded her in death in 2004. They married in 1959 in Oakland, California. There, they built a full and busy life, raising their six wonderful children: Clinton (Nicole) Esser, Brian (Kari) Esser, Jerome Esser, Jeanne Torres, Charlene (Scot) Andrews, and Michele (Thomas) Anderson.
In 1985, Jan married Don Cooper in San Lorenzo, California. Don cared for Jan during her long illness, and he remained by her side with devotion and love throughout the 40 years they shared together.
Jan was known for her kind heart, sweet spirit, and quiet resilience. She found joy in the simple things—being with family, sharing stories of her past, playing solitaire, and offering a warm smile to everyone she met.
Her fondness for butterflies will be an enduring sign; each one that flutters by will forever whisper a warm remembrance of her beautiful soul now adorned with the eternal wings of Heaven.
Her deep love for her family was unwavering, and she was especially proud of her 14 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren, whose photos were prominently displayed on her refrigerator and coffee table.
She will be remembered for her grace, and the way she made those around her feel loved and valued. Her legacy lives on through her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and all those fortunate enough to have known her.
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