Larry J. Cooper

Larry James Cooper passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of October 20, 2024 with his loving wife at his side. He had suffered from cancer for seven years trying his best to beat the disease.

Larry was born to Raymond L. Cooper and Velma Lola (Mueller) Cooper in Benkelman, Nebraska on Easter Sunday, April 9, 1944 while his father served in the Army Air Corp during World War II. His sister, Lana Gale, was born four years later.

Larry tremendously enjoyed his childhood life in Western Kansas where he attended grade school, junior high and high school in Goodland, Kansas. He loved both his Mother's and Father's families: grandparents, aunts, uncles, and his cousins. He had numerous friends from grade school though high school. During the summers, he would work to earn enough money to go to Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. He continued working summers, drilling wells to provide his funding for the next year of study at KSU. He was a dedicated employee and student. This was noticed by his employers

Larry met his future wife, Marcia Ann Gaines, while they were students at KSU. Marcia came from a similar farming background in Peabody, Kansas. Larry and Marcia were married in Peabody, Kansas and in time welcomed two daughters, Toni Rae and Tracy Ann. The family relocated to seven different states for job transfers before retiring in Manhattan. Larry was recognized for his Kansas work ethic, interest, dedication and effectiveness to benefit his employers and fellow employees. He was recognized as a leader who cared about his employees. He was known to his employees as "the TRY guy". His wife, daughters and grandchildren have gone ahead in this manner as well and have been recognized for applying these same techniques and attitudes.

Larry was an avid football player from 7th grade through high school and reached state recognition his senior year as a receiver, blocker and defender. He was also an avid musician playing tenor saxophone and piano for concert bands, high school band and private dance bands. The private bands played throughout western Kansas and eastern Colorado. He loved classical, rock, jazz and concert music. Over the years, he personally introduced his children and grandchildren to The Trashmen and his favorite songs, Surfin Bird and Monster Mash. The grandchildren also danced around as he played his favorite boogies on the piano.

He enjoyed academics his entire life. He specialized in writing, speech, math skills and leadership. Upon graduation from Kansas State University, Larry was hired by one of the top insurance companies in America, Equitable Assurance Company. Starting as a management trainee in Kansas City, he then was assigned to a dedicated team of twenty to develop the technology to convert insurance manual processing to automation in Wilmington, Delaware. Because of his knowledge and service he was transferred to the headquarters in New York City where the new system went nation wide and the company in conjunction with IBM built one of the largest processing systems in existence at the time. At that time, the family lived in New Jersey where Larry commuted into the city each day. Larry was then transferred to Houston, Texas to manage the rollout of the extensive conversion processing conversion from the user standpoint. It was there his expertise was noticed and the company named him to a team to develop a property/casualty subsidiary in Fort Worth, Texas. One of the areas of responsibility here was to set licensing procedures with Insurance Commissioners in all fifty states. After several successful years as chief operations officer the company assigned Larry to develop an automated system for health care processing. He worked directly with Booz Allen Hamilton in Atlanta, Georgia, Chicago, Illinois and New York, New York, while the family continued to reside in Fort Worth, Texas. He was then assigned to design a regional office for health care claims in Des Moines, Iowa.

After a few years in Des Moines, Equitable offered him a position at their headquarters in New York City, Larry careful thought of the implication for his family where his daughters were nearing high school graduation. Larry and Marcia made a decision to decline the offer and keep the family in the Midwest. Upon resigning from a company where he had worked and prospered over twenty-one years, he was quickly offered a position at Wisconsin Physician Services (WPS) to turn around a troubled CHAMPUS division in Madison, Wisconsin. Through hard work and dedication to providing a better service to U.S. military, Larry worked diligently to earn the trust of not only employees, but also of the Department of Defense Health and Human Services area. Before he retired from WPS in 2004, Larry and his team were successful in acquiring 80% of the worldwide CHAMPUS/Tricare/Tricare for Life contracts.

Larry was an avid fan of KSU football. Since the inception of the Big 12 in 1996, Larry and Marcia were season ticket holders. They traveled from Madison, Wisconsin to every home game, missing only 3 games. Hence their retirement to Manhattan and living a stone's throw from the football stadium.

Upon retirement, Larry and Marcia moved to Manhattan, Kansas. There Larry served his community through the Chamber of Commerce-Retire to the Flint Hills committee as an advisor; and, the city and county commissions through his numerous letters and conversations with commissioners. He was also a Master Gardener and took pleasure in working at K-State Gardens, Sunset Zoo and the flower beds at the Courthouse. Larry was also a docent at Konza Prairie and loved leading and teaching children the wonders of the prairie.

Larry is survived by his wife of 59 years, Marcia. Daughter Toni (Steve), West Des Moines Iowa, daughter Tracy (Michael) Jackson, Prairie Village, KS, grandchildren Zachary (Bailey) Boals, Des Moines, Iowa, Mitchell Boals, Adel, Iowa, Madeline Boals, Gulf Shores, Alabama, Grace Adams (Felipe Torez) Seattle, Washington, Laura Adams, Chicago, IL and great grandchildren Addison and Barrett Boals, Des Moines, Iowa

Larry was preceded in death by his father Raymond L. Cooper, his mother Velma L. Cooper, his grandparents, aunts and uncles. Also, by his father-in-law Harvey (Tony) Gaines and mother-in-law Gwendolyn Gaines.

Larry's body has been cremated and a memorial service will be held on Monday, October 28, 2024 at Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home in Manhattan. Visitation is at 1:00 pm with services beginning at 2:00 pm. Private inurnment will be held at a later date at the Peabody Cemetery, Peabody, Kansas.

Memorial contributions can be made to Good Shepherd Hospice House or Kansas State University Gardens in memory of Larry Cooper. Contributions may be sent in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.

Online condolences may be left for the family through the funeral home website at www.ymlfuneralhome.com