John was born December 3, 1923, in Newell, SD. weighing only 3lbs when born and living to be 94, he was destined to be great.

John served in the U.S. Navy, 1944 to 1946. In 1947, John married Louise Schreiber, and they were married for 67 years until Louise passed away in April 2015.

John worked at several jobs as a ranch hand, sawmill worker, Homestake Gold Mine and retired from Ft. Meade VA Hospital.

John E. Cooper, 94, passed away December 23, 2017, at David Dorsett Health Care in Spearfish.

John is survived by his four children, Ken (Sharon) Cooper of Sturgis; Bill (Roxie) Cooper of Whitewood; Sandy (Roger) Gillespie of Whitewood; Calvin (Carmen) Cooper of Whitewood; seven grandchildren and their spouses; twelve great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; sister, Arlene Martin of Dupree; two brothers, Ted Cooper of Sequim, WA; Arthur Cooper of San Bernardino, CA; two sister-in- laws, Johanna Turner of Colorado Springs, CO; Alice Yuill of La Grange, WY; brother-in-law, Fred Schreiber of TX.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Louise; grandson, Tige Cooper; two granddaughters, Lori Natchke and Cody Cooper; two sisters and parents.

Memorial service will be 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 2, 2018, at Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis with Chaplain Patricia Aunar officiating. Inurnment with military honors will be at Whitewood Cemetery.