Esther Cooper

Esther Schwerin Cooper, of Homewood, AL died January 19, 2011. She was born in 1912 at Echo, Minnesota, the daughter of Henry and Amalia Horsch Schwerin. She graduated from Echo High School, then from Asbury Hospital School of Nursing in Minneapolis. She did graduate study at the University of Minnesota and at Margaret Hague Maternity Hospital in Jersey City, NJ. She was employed at hospitals in Monmouth, IL and Sioux City, IA. For 10 years, she was Office Nurse for Dr. F. J. Lohr at The Sioux City Medical Clinic. On December 24, 1949, she married James S. Cooper. They had two children, Robert James and Mary Ellen, and lived in Sioux City until 1983, when they moved to Spirit Lake. James died Oct. 11, 1986. Baptized and confirmed in the Methodist Church, Esther was always active in various areas of the church program. Esther was an active member of P.E.O. Chapter MO. She was past-president of Chapter HZ. She received 50 years recognition in 1999. She was a member and past-president of the Lakes Garden Club (Iowa), which granted her a life membership. Esther served as Director of District 8 Federated Garden Clubs of Iowa for 2 years. Esther loved life! She loved her family, her home, her profession and her friends. She enjoyed gardening, traveling, walking, reading, quilting and sewing for her grandchildren. After retiring, Esther was active in many areas of volunteer activity. Esther was preceded in death by: her husband; her parents; her brothers Fred, George, Henry and Robert and; her sisters Anna, Amalia and Alice. She is survived by her children, Robert James Cooper (Konda) of York, NE and Mary Ellen Cooper of Birmingham, AL and three grandchildren Laura Terry, Sarah Heaton and Benton Cooper as well as many loving nieces, nephews and dear friends. Memorial contributions may be made to the Spirit Lake United Methodist Church. A memorial service will be held in Spirit Lake, Iowa on June 27.