THOMAS D. COOPER [69]

Died: Wednesday 13 May 2015
Visitation: Sunday 17 May 2015, 4:00-7:00 p.m. at Immaculate Conception Church, Moville
Wake: Sunday 17 May 2015, 7:00 p.m. at Immaculate Conception Church, Moville
Funeral: Monday 18 May 2015, 10:30 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Church, Moville

MOVILLE, Iowa | Thomas David Cooper, 69, of Moville died Wednesday, May 13, 2015, at a Sioux City hospital.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 419 Jones Street in Moville, with the Rev. Mark J. Stoll officiating. Interment will be in Arlington Township Cemetery at Moville. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m., and a prayer service beginning at 7 p.m., at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of McCulloch Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home in Moville.

Tom was born Sept. 7, 1945, in Sioux City, Iowa, to Floyd E. and Mildred (Herring) Cooper. The family made Mondamin, Iowa, their home. He graduated from West Harrison High School in 1962. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Dakota in 1966. He started his teaching and coaching career at Dysart, Iowa. Tom entered the U.S. Army in June of 1968 and served in Vietnam. He was honorably discharged in March of 1970 and returned to Dysart to teach.

He moved to Denison Iowa, where he became the principal at St. Rose of Lima school.
He met Linda Hulsebus in Denison, and the couple was married on Aug. 8, 1980. Tom earned his master’s degree from Iowa State while working in Denison. In 1981, the couple moved to Boone, where he was the principal at Sacred Heart School. While working in Boone, he earned a superintendent’s degree from the University of Northern Iowa. He moved to Plainfield, Iowa, in 1985 and became the superintendent of schools there until 1988, when he moved to Moville to be superintendent of Woodbury Central Schools in Moville.

Tom and Linda lost their son, Reggie in a car accident in December of 2000 and started the "Coop Classic," a charity golf tournament held in Moville each year. In August of 2002, Linda passed away of Lou Gehrig’s disease. Tom and his children have continued the tournament. Now it is held in honor of Linda and Reggie while raising scholarship funds for Woodbury Central Seniors. Tom was grateful for all the love and support his family had received from the community during times of sadness and struggle.

Tom married Pamela Wetovick on Dec. 30, 2005. The couple have continued to make Moville their home. Tom retired in 2009 from Woodbury Central. The "Coop Classic" has continued to raise funds for scholarships and this year Tom was proud to be able to give out 12 scholarships.

Tom was an active member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church of Moville, having taught CCD and served as an Eucharistic minister. He belonged to the Knights of Columbus as well. His hobbies included playing golf, cards, wine making, watching sports, both high school and college, being an avid Woodbury Central athletic supporter, traveling to see his family and spending time playing with his grandchildren.

Surviving are two sons, Jerod and Zulma Cooper of Lowell, Ariz., and Gabriel and Britney Cooper of Sioux City; two daughters, Carissa and Ryan Ruiz of Litchfield Park, Ariz., and Millie and Loren Velasquez of Litchfield Park, Ariz.; six grandchildren, Aidan, Brooklynn, Blake, Miles, Dempsey and Christian; five stepchildren, Chris and Janell Mustard of Columbus, Neb., Candice and Heath Scott of Springfield, Va., Chad and Kalli Mustard of Omaha, Carrie and Raymon Cline of Aurora, Colo., and Craig Mustard of Omaha; 12 stepgrandchildren, Ryan, Eric, Grace, Drew, Brittlan, Greyson, Ella, Kamryn, Caitlyn, Thaddeus, Eva and Maida; sister, Bev and Tom Buckman of Chicago, Ill.; two sisters-in-law, Sharon Cooper of Mondamin, Iowa, and Pat Cooper of San Antonio, Texas; brother-in-law, Dean and Susan Hulsebus of Granger, Iowa; two sisters-in-law, Carol and Ed Fink and Lori Petersen, all of Denison, Iowa; mother-in-law, Patricia Wetovick of Fullerton, Neb.; brothers-in-law, Kevin and Joet Wetovick, Ken and Karyn Wetovick, Rick and Marne Wetovick and Rod and Penny Wetovick, all of Fullerton, Neb.; a sister-in-law, Cyndy and Ken Pilakowski of Genoa, Neb.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Linda L. (Hulsebus) Cooper; son, Reggie; and two brothers, Norman Cooper and James Cooper.