Weldon "Sonny" Cooper

Weldon "Sonny" Cooper obituary, Maquon, IL

Weldon "Sonny" Cooper

Weldon Cooper Obituary

Obituary published on Legacy.com by Hurd-Hendricks Funeral Homes - Knoxville on Feb. 28, 2026.
Weldon "Sonny" Cooper, age 88, of rural Yates City, Illinois died at 10:25 AM on Thursday, February 26, 2026 at Allure of Lake Storey in Galesburg, Illinois.

He was born on April 30, 1937 in Maquon, Illinois the son of Clarence and Mildred (Hultberg) Cooper. He married Rebecca "Becky" VeNard on January 3, 1958 in Knoxville, Illinois.

Surviving is his wife Becky of rural Yates City, Illinois; two children: Pamela Jean (Stephen) Ebel of Rapid City, Illinois and Denise Marie (Kevin) Elsasser of Belton, Missouri; one adopted son/very close friend Ernie (Nina Brown) Thurman of St. Augustine, Illinois; two grandchildren: Seliena Marie (Nate) Warren of Davenport, Iowa and Lucas Wayne Dunten of Belton, Missouri, Kansas; one great-grandson: Lucin Josiah Nelson of New Windsor, Illinois. He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters: Phyllis Schultz and Shirley Fishel.

He worked the former Gale Products in Galesburg, Illinois and worked maintenance for the former Laurel Greens Golf Course in rural Knoxville, Illinois. He was an avid outdoorsman, hunting, fishing and trapping all over Knox County. He was an active member of the Illinois Trapper's Association and the NRA.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 PM on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at the Hurd-Hendricks Funeral Homes & Crematory in Knoxville, Illinois. Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 PM on Thursday, March 5, 2026 at the funeral home, with Rodney Kelso officiating. Burial will be in the Maquon Cemetery, Maquon, Illinois. Memorials may be made to the Illinois Trapper's Association. On-line condolences may be left at www.hurd-hendricksfuneralhomes.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

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