Penelope Cooper

Penelope “Penny” (Pote) Cooper, age 69, of Adair, IA, passed from this life on Tuesday, December 13, 2022, at EveryStep Hospice Kavanagh House in Des Moines, IA.

Penny the eldest daughter of Jacob and Beverly Pote was born at Adair County Hospital on February 25, 1953. Penny attended Bridgwater - Fontanelle Schools, graduating at Fontanelle in 1971. Following graduation, Penny attended Southwestern Community College in Creston, IA. There she met the love of her life Ralph Cooper and was married on November 11, 1972. They began life together on the Cooper Family Farm just south of Adair. Their son Travis was born in 1973, and their son Kelly was born in 1975.

Penny worked in various cafes and restaurants in Adair, then as a bus driver for the Adair-Casey Schools from 1978 - 1998. The family also had a lawn-mowing service. After nearly 20 years as a bus driver, Penny worked at Sky Jack in Atlantic, then Cardinal Glass in Greenfield. In 2000 Penny began driving the parts delivery van for Faga Implement in Adair, where she retired from there in 2019. After retirement, Penny enjoyed writing short stories and had two of them published.

Penny is survived by Ralph, her dedicated husband for 50 years; son, Travis (Valdie) Cooper of Virginia, son, Kelly (Kim) of Casey; six grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two sisters, Paula and Patty; Ralph’s mother, Sylvia Cooper; and many other in-laws and cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Preceding Penny in death was her mother and father; her father-in-law Leon Cooper; and her grandparents.

Funeral service will take place at 10:30 a.m., on Saturday, December 17, 2022, at Good Shepard Lutheran Church in Adair, IA. The funeral service will be live-streamed & recorded and may be located on Penny’s obituary page, below her obituary, on the website of the Schmidt Family Funeral Home. A reception will follow the funeral service at the church. Interment will take place at Witt Cemetery just southeast of Bridgewater, IA.

Visitation with the family will be held from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Friday, December 16, 2022, at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Adair, IA.

Memorials may be directed to the Cooper Family at this time and may be mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home P.O. Box 523, Atlantic, IA 50022. They will be designated to many of Penny’s local favorite organizations and charities.

Arrangements are handled with the Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Adair.