William Cooper, Sr., of Kimball died Tuesday, June 13, 2017, at his daughter’s home. He was 89. 
Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 17, at the Kimball United Methodist Church with Pastor Ken Felska officiating. Visitation will be held 30 minutes prior to the service. Burial will take place at a later date in the Kimball Cemetery.
William Seth Cooper, Sr., was born Sept. 16, 1927, to Bailey and Lyda (Paddock) Cooper in the Watkins Hospital. He grew up on the family farm northwest of Kimball. He was one of 10 children. He attended Stickney Hill one-room school house and graduated from Kimball High School with the Class of 1945. Bill was drafted into the U.S. Army after graduation, serving in the occupation of Japan.
After his discharge, he returned to the family farm and worked for various neighbors, for the cheese plant in Watkins, and in the North Dakota wheat fields. In 1950, William enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, serving in French Morocco, North Africa. On June 8, 1953, Bill was united in marriage to Muriel Donoghue in St. Paul. They resided in Columbus, Ohio, while Bill completed his military enlistment. William and Muriel returned to the family farm in 1954, and worked with Bill’s father. They purchased the farm and equipment and continued to farm until retiring in 1988. He then worked for Creative Memories and retired in 1999. Bill loved bowling, golfing, and fishing. He was the last surviving member of the Men’s Kimball Bowling Association.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents; wife; and siblings M. Elizabeth Mike, John “Jack” Cooper, Margaret “Peggy” Spence, S. Woodrow Cooper, Frederic Cooper, Robert Cooper, Rachel Jones, David Cooper, and Nancy Thomas.
He is survived by his children Alana (and Harold) Pramann of South haven, Bill Cooper, Jr. (and David Bucher) of Minneapolis, Tom (and Teresa) Cooper of Ridgecrest, Calif., Chuck (and Lisa) Cooper of St. Joseph, and Cathy (and Bill) Phillips of Kimball; 14 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Memorials are preferred to the Kimball United Methodist Church. Arrangements are entrusted with Dingmann Funeral Care Burial & Cremation Services of Kimball.