William (Bill) Cooper, 81 of Gibson, died Saturday, May 20, 2023, at the Keokuk County Health Center after a courageous battle with cancer. Funeral services will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at the Holland-Coble Funeral Home in What Cheer. Visitation with the family will begin at 9:00 a.m. Saturday and last until the time of service. Burial will be held privately. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the American Legion in Barnes City.

William Edward Cooper was born October 28, 1941, in Thornburg, Iowa. He began kindergarten in Gibson and later attended Tri-County, South High in What Cheer. Bill was active in football, and he showed calves at the Keokuk County Fair. After high school he enlisted in the National Guard during the Viet Nam War and later received a business degree from Iowa Wesleyan College. His first job after graduation was Insurance Adjuster for Grinnell Reinsurance. He left Grinnell Reinsurance to move back to the family farm to pursue his successful lifelong career in farming. He was united in marriage to Rose Tanke on August 10,1999 in Montezuma, Iowa. Bill was a member of the Gibson Presbyterian Church, and a loyal Chicago Cubs and Iowa Hawkeyes fan his life entire life. He always enjoyed bus trips to Chicago to watch the Cubs play and attending the Iowa State Fair each year.  As a member of the American Legion, he faithfully decorated Veterans graves each Memorial Weekend.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Donald and Corinne Moore Cooper; and a sister, Shirlee Rathbun.

He is survived by his wife, Rose; a daughter, Cassie (Emily) Cooper of Des Moines; two sisters, Wilene (Pierce) Cornelius of Tucson, AZ, and Gwen Hall, Las Vegas, NV. His nieces and nephews are Doug (Janel) Rathbun, Kellee Rathbun, Neal Rathbun, Cindy (Charlie) Naffziger, Frank Cornelius and Brett (Yebir) Hall. They admired the Dodge Charger Bill drove when he was in high school.