Albert Edgar Cooper

Albert Edgar Cooper, 91, a long-time Illinoisan residing in Omaha since 2006, died at 6:45 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022, at Hospice House Josie Harper residence. He was born October 10, 1930, in Alton, Illinois, to Dean and Nina (Wiegand) Cooper. He graduated from Alton High School and attended Shurtleff College, Alton. Before and after his stateside service in the U.S. Army (1951-53), where he was a Second Lieutenant, Al held roles of increasing responsibility with Illinois Bell Telephone Co., first in Alton and, from 1955 until his retirement in 1990, in and around Chicago. He and his wife, the former Patricia Kennedy, whom he married in Alton on Dec. 27, 1951, lived most of their married life in Glen Ellyn, Ill. In their later years together, Al and Pat enjoyed winters in Punta Gorda, Fla., and vacations in Europe. After Pat’s death on May 30, 1997, Al returned to Punta Gorda for 20 more winters and lived a half-dozen summers in Dubuque, Iowa, before his 2006 move to Omaha. He lived in the area full-time since 2017, first in Northwest Omaha and later at Marquis Place, Elkhorn. Before his health declined, Al enjoyed playing bridge, reading, biking and walking, working crosswords, and attending his children’s and grandchildren’s activities. To the end, he was a raconteur of well-practiced stories who specialized in corny jokes and witticisms. Rarely was he seen without his all-white (no logos!) ball cap. Survivors include three sons, Brian (Ann), of Dubuque, Iowa; Mark (Janet), of Council Bluffs, Iowa; and Kevin (Lora), of Omaha; a daughter, Nancy (Shawn) Ovenden, of Omaha; 12 grandchildren: Kate (Will Hoyer) Cooper, Andrew (Josie) Cooper, Ellen (Adam) Broich, Gregory (Kristin) Cooper, Matthew Cooper, Jessica (Tom) Fischer, Emily (Jimmy) Witt, David (Alycia) Cooper, Erin Cooper, Stephen Cooper, Adam Ovenden, and Eric Ovenden; 13 great-grandchildren; his sister, Karen (Axel) Christiansen, of Simi Valley, Calif.; two step-grandchildren, Jon Robbins and Crystal (Doug) Wyman; two step-great-grandchildren; brothers-in-law; sisters-in-law; nieces; nephews; and Al’s dear friend Beverly Moyer, of Glenview, Ill. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Reichmuth Funeral Home, 21901 W. Maple Road, Elkhorn. The service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home, the Rev. Craig Loecker presiding. Livestream will be available at www.reichmuthfuneralhomes.com. Military rites will be accorded. Following cremation, burial will take place at a later date in Forest Hill Cemetery, Glen Ellyn, Ill. Memorials may be made to the Omaha Public Library Foundation or a charity of the donor’s choice.

Albert Edgar Cooper

October 10, 1930 - August 28, 2022