Joelle Cooper

Joelle LaRae Cooper was born July 28, 1942, the daughter of Harold and Harriet Friedrichsen Cowan. She passed away Monday, November 4, 2013, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, at the age of 71.
Joelle was born in Galva, Iowa. She was baptized March 16, 1958, at the Methodist Church in Washta, Iowa, and confirmed December 14, 1967, at Zion Lutheran Church in Denison, Iowa. Joelle graduated as class valedictorian from Grand Meadows High School in 1960. On August 7, 1966, Joelle was united in marriage to Lance Cooper at the First English Lutheran Church in Spencer, Iowa, and to this union was born three children. The couple made their home in Denison, Iowa, where Joelle stayed at home with her children until they started school. She then began her 30-plus year career at KDSN Radio in Denison until she retired in 2008.
Joelle loved spending time with family and friends. She liked to bake, sew quilts, and play cards in her spare time. Joelle was an avid baseball fan following the Atlanta Braves and was able to travel to watch them play in Cincinnati, Arizona, and Denver. She also rooted for the Iowa Hawkeyes. When her children were young Joelle was active in the Denison Little League serving as treasurer and scorekeeper. For several years she and Lance bowled on a mixed doubles league. Joelle was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Denison and served on the Altar Guild Society, was a member of Evening Guild, helped count the offering on Mondays, and volunteered at the hospital gift shop. In 2008 Joelle was named the Chamber of Commerce Business Woman of the Year.
Joelle was preceded in death by her parents; and three brothers: Verlyn Friedrichsen, and Mick and Butch Cowan. Survivors include her husband, Lance of Denison; three children: Lana Wilson, Blake Cooper, and Melanie Cooper; all of Des Moines, Iowa; five grandchildren: Erik Cooper, Kayley Cooper, Sara Cooper, Brayton Cooper, and Shane Cooper; four sisters-in-law: Sharon Cowan of Washta, Iowa; Wanda Friedrichsen of Alton, Iowa; and Monica Cowan-Schmidt and her husband, Craig of Cherokee, Iowa; Judy Stickney and her husband, Tom of Sarasota, Florida; and one brother-in-law, Bobby Cooper of Sarasota, Florida; other relatives and friends.