Darlene Marie Cooper

Darlene M. Cooper, 87, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin passed away Thursday December 28, 2017 at home surrounded by her loving family. She was born June 22nd 1930 at home in Muscatine Iowa, the daughter of Frank and Nellie Peyerl. Darlene graduated from high school in 1948 and from St. Francis School of Nursing in 1951. Darlene married George Cooper on October 20, 1951. They were married for 60 wonderful years until George passed away in 2012. Together they raised five children.
Darlene worked as a registered nurse at Mercy Medical Center and then at Winnebago Mental Health Center for over 27 years until she retired in 1992. In her free time she attended and volunteered at Most Blessed Sacrament Church in Oshkosh, golfed, played cards at the senior center, bowled, and enjoyed family trips. Darlene loved watching the Packers and the Brewers and cheering them onto victory! It was rare for her to miss a game. Darlene also participated in a nurse’s group that met monthly for over 60 years celebrating life together.
Family was important to Darlene including focus on education, Sunday meals, playing cards with the family, camping and traveling. She was always positive, hardworking, and had a strong faith and relationship with God. She had suffered from a stroke in 1998 but didn’t let that slow her down. Even after her stroke she continued to travel with George and her family. She never complained but instead was grateful of all that she had and was still able to do. Darlene was devoted to her husband and family.
She will be missed by her family including: two sons, Steven (LeAnn) Cooper of Fredrick, Colorado, James (Michelle) Cooper of Omro, Wisconsin, three daughters, Sue (Michael) Plummer of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Lisa (Jeff) McRae of Hawthorn Woods, Illinois and Beth (Michael) Vetelino of North Stonington, Connecticut, twelve grandchildren Elizabeth Miller, Eric Plummer, Justin and Kristen Fry, Nicole and Sabrina Duey, Eric, Aaron, Jeremy and Isabelle Vetelino, Cassandra (Adam) Levetzow, Garrett Cooper, two great grandchildren Lisa and Zachary Miller, two sisters Marcella Bieber and Marilyn (Marvin) Cooney and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband George, parents, a brother Francis Peyerl and grandson Dakota Cooper.
A visitation for family and friends for Darlene will be held on Monday, January 1st from 1-3 p.m. at Most Blessed Sacrament Church, 449 High Avenue, Oshkosh followed by a funeral at 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Coops Wrestling Scholarship (in honor of her grandson Dakota Cooper who passed away earlier this year).
Darlene’s family would like to thank Dr. Gremminger and her staff, and Affinity Hospice for their support and loving care of Darlene.
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields and,
Until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.