Vernon Cooper

Vernon “Vern” Wayne Cooper, 83, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, July 12, 2026, at his home, surrounded by family. The family will greet friends from 5 - 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at FaithLife Church in Marion, Iowa. A Funeral Service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 17, 2026, at the church. Burial will follow at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery in Cedar Rapids. Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Marion is assisting the family.

Vern was born on July 3, 1943, in Marshalltown, Iowa, the son of Gerald and Lucille (Parks) Cooper. He was raised on a farm in rural Tama County and graduated from Garwin High School in 1961. He then attended Marshalltown Community College, where he was given the opportunity to live in and work for the Pursel-Davis Funeral Home. After graduating from Marshalltown Community College, he moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to attend the Wisconsin Institute of Mortuary Science. Following graduation, he moved to Cedar Rapids and was employed by Turner Mortuary, until 1967. In 1967, Vern took a position with Allstate Insurance and set a record for life sales. He was then offered a sales management position with the company. Vern later went on to purchase the Bill Neighbor Agency and became the owner of the First Life Investors Agency. He was also a Motivational Speaker at conventions nationally and internationally.

On August 15, 1970, Vern married Connie Cooper at First Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids. Together they built a life with adventure and cherished memories. They enjoyed hosting tours around Branson, Missouri, and spent many family vacations making memories at Table Rock Lake. In 2020, they returned to Cedar Rapids, where they looked forward to spending Thursday evenings dancing together. Vern had a passion for the outdoors and enjoyed working in the garden, camping, fishing, and snowmobiling. He also had a special appreciation for Corvettes. Known for being a sharp dresser, Vern always took pride in looking his best. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Vernon is survived and lovingly remembered by his wife of 55 years, Connie Cooper; three children, Byron (Regina) Cooper of Robins, Iowa, Heather (Randy) Engel of Toddville, Iowa, and Ryan (Shanna) Cooper of Cedar Rapids; nine grandchildren, Kenneth Cooper, Ashlynn Rauch, Autumn Engel, Arissa Schnepp, Noah Cooper, Sienna Cooper, Addison Cooper, Tatum Cooper, and Taylor (Logan) Ewing; great-grandchildren, Everly, Brantley, and Randy Rauch; and two sisters, Lorraine Fawcett and Virginia Nielsen, both of Ames, Iowa.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Chad Wayne Cooper; and grandson, Kyle Cooper.