Ivan Cooper

IVAN COOPER IDAHO FALLS, ID -- Ivan Dale Cooper, 81, long-time Idaho Falls resident, died August 16, 2006, at his home from asbestosis due to asbestos exposure while working at the INL. Ivan was born September 27, 1924, at Iona, Idaho, to Alfred Alonzo Cooper and May Adella Godfrey Cooper. He attended schools at Crowley, Iona, and Ucon. He graduated from Iona High School in 1943. After graduating, he enlisted in the United States Navy and attended Farragut Naval Trainer Center boot camp in Northern Idaho. He attended Machinist School at Great Lake, Diesel School in Richmond, VA, and Motor Torpedo Machinist School (PT boats) in Rhode Island. He was assigned to PT104 serving in the South Pacific Islands, the Philippines, and the East Indies. He was honorably discharged in April 1946. He married Venna Marie Martin December 27, 1946, in the Idaho Falls Temple. He worked at the Lincoln Sugar Factory in the Fall and farmed in the summer months. He started working at the National Reactor Testing Station, now the INL, in January of 1955. He worked there 35 years as an industrial mechanic until his retirement in 1989. He was active in the union and also served the community as democratic precinct committeeman. He was a Refrigeration instructor at Eastern Idaho Technical College and served as a member of the INEL apprenticehip selection committee. A member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served in the Elders Quorum. Ivan loved hunting, fishing, camping and traveling with his family, visiting all 50 states, Mexico and Canada, and loved building with wood and metal, remodeling the family home, building a garage and shop, and taking care of his cars. He is survived by: Wife: Venna Cooper of Idaho Falls, ID Son: Darel (Debbie) Cooper of Idaho Falls, ID Daughter: Sheila Cooper of Idaho Falls, ID Daughter: Charmaine (Curtis) Brooks of Boise, ID Daughter: Carla (Rick) Fluck of Idaho Falls, ID Daughter: Connie (Ed) Lessmann of Granbury, TX 6 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, a sister, and an infant son, Norman Dale Cooper. Funeral Services will be at 11:00 a.m. Monday, August 22, 2006, at Wood East Side Chapel, 963 S. Ammon, with Bishop Tim Orchard of the Ucon LDS 2nd Ward officiating. The family will visit with friends Sunday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and Monday for one hour prior to the services, both at Wood East Side. Burial will be in the Ucon Cemetery under the direction of Wood Funeral Home East Side. Military Rites being performed by the Bonneville County Veterans Memorial Team.