Gordon Cooper

Gordon Cooper, 85, of, Lax Lake, died Sunday, January 15, 2012 in Solvay Hospice House in Duluth, after a courageous battle with cancer.

He was born September 11, 1926, to Marion and Helen (Jhanke) Cooper in Mound, Minnesota. Gordon served in the Navy during WWII in the invasion of Okinawa. He was discharged in 1946 and in September of that same year he married Nancy Peacock in Portland, Oregon. They lived in Isle, Minnesota for 11 years before moving to the Lax Lake area. Gordon worked as an auto mechanic and salesman, was the proprietor of the Standard station in Silver Bay for five years, and then as a heavy equipment operator for the county until his retirement in 1988. Gordon was a member of the United Protestant Church in Silver Bay, the Masons, and the VFW. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, and having coffee while visiting with friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; 3 brothers; 1 sister; and daughter-in-law, Barb.

Gordon is survived by his wife of 65 years, Nancy; son, Thomas (Cheri); daughter, Bonnie (Tim) Hagberg; 5 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild; brothers, Bob, David, and Joe; sisters, Harriet, Helen, and Karen; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 1 PM until the 2 PM service on Saturday, January 21, 2012 at United Protestant Church in Silver Bay. Burial will be in Crystal Bay Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Solvay Hospice House, or the United Protestant Church.