Kevin Cooper

Kevin G. Cooper, 48, of Waukon, IA, died Monday, April 6, 2015, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 11th, at 11:00 AM at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon, with Rev. Msgr. Ed Lechtenberg, Deacon Mike Ward, and Pastor Samantha Houser officiating. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM Friday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon, where there will be a 2:45 PM scripture service. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund will be set up at a later date.

Kevin Glenn Cooper was born July 16, 1966, in Waukon, IA, the son of Glenn and Janice (Baumgartner) Cooper. He graduated from Waukon High School in 1985. On April 30, 1988, he married Karen Byrnes at St. Mary's Hanover Catholic Church in rural Waukon. Kevin worked for Duffy and Ludeking Feed Service in Waukon, Carlson Construction in Decorah, and farmed with his parents for several years. He worked for Waukon Equity Co-op as an operator, and later was a salesman, a certified crop advisor, and agronomy manager for United Co-op and Innovative Ag Services in Waukon. Kevin was very passionate about what he did in the ag service business and was always looking out for the farmers best interest. To Kevin this was not just a job to him, he made a network of lifelong friendships.

He loved spending time with his family, especially being able to be a teacher for his children when it came to little life lessons. He loved his children deeply and would often have a tear in his eye when Karen talked about them. Kevin had a great sense of humor, a goofy laid back personality, and a laugh that people loved, but most of all he had the biggest heart. For those who knew Kevin well, he had endless supply of quotes that others would often imitate. He touched so many lives, made people feel at ease, and was an excellent example of how people should live. His greatest accomplishments in life were his children. Kevin also enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, boating, and attending his children's activities. He enjoyed his many fishing trips in Canada, Lake Erie, but especially all the family times spent at Lake Pepin. There were many memories made from when he was a little boy to bringing his own family on these trips. He enjoyed watching football and basketball, cheering on the Cincinnati Reds, and keeping up with NASCAR.

Survivors include his wife Karen of Waukon; his children: Alyssa, who is a traveling nurse, of Des Moines, IA, Leah of Cedar Falls, IA, and Garrett of Waukon; his mother Janice (friend Don Dehning) of Waukon; three brothers: Craig of Medford, OR, Mike (Tina) of Waukon, and Mark (Kelly) of Dubuque, IA; his father and mother-in-law Dennis and Judy Byrnes of Waukon; and his brothers and sisters-in-laws: Jeff (Martha) Byrnes of New Albin, IA, Wayne (Jane Regan) Byrnes of Waukon, Greg (Amy) Byrnes and Matt (Michelle) Byrnes, both of Dorchester, IA, Brad (Jodi) Byrnes of Denver, CO, and Beth (Jason) Simpson of Cedar Falls; and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his father Glenn.

Honorary casketbearers are Paul Hanson, Garth Cooper, Jeff, Wayne, Brad, Greg, Matt, and Jamie Byrnes, and Jason Simpson. Casketbearers are Tom Bulman, Todd, Clark, and Tommy Mellick, Mike Moody, Steve Hanson, Mark Jones, and Mike Welch.