June Arlene Cooper, age 85, of North Platte, Nebraska died October 15, 2021 at her home in North Platte.
June was born on September 28, 1936 north of Moorefield in Lincoln County, Nebraska, daughter of John Henry (Jack) and Jessie Erma (Speck) Martin, the first of four children. During the Depression, they lived in Idaho, Gothenburg, Nebraska, and Farnam, Nebraska. She was baptized in the Baptist Church in Farman in 1948.
She attended and graduated from Farnam Public Schools, then attended Kearney State College in Kearney, Nebraska for two years and received an associates degree in Cosmetology. June married Norlin Cooper on June 8, 1958 in Farnam. To this union, three children were born: Kimberly Sue, Shelby Corlin, and Tracy Lee.
June and Norlin lived in North Platte, Nebraska from 1977 and owned and operated Big John's Bar & Lounge. Following Norlin's passing, June owned and operated Shangri-La Beauty Salon. She made the best chokecherry jelly and made breakfast every Sunday for any and all family who were in town. She was a great cook. Her many talents included making quilts for Vets and over 100 masks for the Retirement Centers and volunteered at Centennial Park where she played the piano and did book reviews for the elderly, as many were younger than her.
She loved to go to her children's, grandchildren's and great-grandchildren's events. She also enjoyed bowling, crossword puzzles, knitting and reading. She was a great mother and grandmother. While her health was good, she walked 4-6 miles a week, and then after her illness she had to stop.
Survivors include a dauther, Kimberly (Bradley) Johnson of North Platte, Nebraska; two sons, Shelby Cooper of Round Rock, Texas and Tracy (Michelle Mould) Cooper of Georgetown, Texas; nine grandchildren, Kristina (Sam) Smith, Mallory (Oz Cardona), Bobbie and Maggie Johnson, Jensen, Brennan & Lexie Cooper, and Tristan and Grayson Cooper; seven great-grandchildren, Aschton, Cohle, Ty Ann, Kasante, Shane, Annalina, and Ethan; two brothers, Jerry (Sandra) Martin of Fairbury, Nebraska and Doug (Susan) Martin of Lincoln, Nebraska; a sister, Norma Florom of McCook, Nebraska; and numerous nieces and nephews.
June was preceded in death by her husband, father and mother.
Visitation will be held at Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel in Gothenburg, Nebraska on Monday, October 18, 2021 from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Services will be held at Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel in Gothenburg on October 18, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. Burial will follow in the Farnam Cemetery in Farnam, Nebraska.
Memorials may be given to the Alzheimer's Association or the American Cancer Society in June's name.
To sign the online guest book, go to www.blasestrauser.com.