COTTAGE GROVE - George W. Cooper Jr., age 85, passed away on Monday, March 11, 2024, into the waiting arms of his Savior, surrounded by his family, at Azura Memory Care in Stoughton, Wis. He had resided there since June of 2023 as a result of complications of late-stage Parkinson’s disease. He was born March 5, 1939, in Wheeling, W.Va., to Doris Katherine (Miller) and George Warrick Cooper.

The family made numerous moves during George’s childhood and adolescent years, as his father pursued his career in electrical engineering. From Wheeling to College Park, Md., followed by Cleveland, Ohio, Zanesville, Ohio, back to Cleveland and then in Elm Grove, Wis.

While in Elm Grove, he graduated from Wauwatosa East High School in 1957, then continued his education at UW-Madison, where he graduated in 1961 with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Chemistry. He continued his education, receiving an M.A. in Psychology from West Virginia University in Morgantown, W.Va., in 1963. Unsure of what he wanted to do with his newfound degree, he returned to Elm Grove to contemplate the choices. He began working on one of the psychiatric units at what was then Milwaukee County General Hospital, as their psychiatric facilities were well known.

One day while working on one of the units, he happened to notice a young student nurse named Ann. He asked her out and the rest is history. They were married July 8, 1967, at Woodlawn Evangelical Lutheran Church in West Allis, Wis. (Ann’s home church). They were referred to Holy Cross as a potential new church home by Ann’s pastor, and George and Ann decided to check it out. They visited and never left. Their faith home became the foundation of the family.

George taught Psychology at MATC-Madison for 35 years. He introduced the first video course in Psychology and was otherwise known for his hypnosis demonstration. George enjoyed reading, boating, spending time at Lake of the Ozarks with family and frequent trips to Door County. He had a passion for the Creation vs. Evolution debate, in which he was a strong believer in Creation.

Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Ann; his daughters, Rebecca (Erik Chamberlain) and Amy (Ross) Hazlewood; his two grandchildren, Brad and Elise Hazlewood; niece, Patty Finley and her son, Jase of Overland Park, Kan.; and special cousins, Carol Bell of Norcross, Ga., Danny (Deb) Bell of Wheeling, W.Va., and Joyce Copeland of Nixa, Mo.

A funeral service will be held at HOLY CROSS LUTHERAN CHURCH, 734 Holy Cross Way, Madison, at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 18, 2024, followed by a luncheon at the church. Visitation will be held at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Monday. A graveside service at Highland Memory Gardens will follow the luncheon.

Thanks to pastors Mark Bartels and Piet Van Kampen, and the staff at Azura and Agrace HospiceCare for their compassionate care of George. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorials made in George’s name to Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Azura Memory Care of Stoughton, or the Michael J. Fox Foundation.

George will be remembered as a patient, kind, gentle and loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle and cousin and will be dearly missed.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East

Funeral & Cremation Care

5203 Monona Drive

(608) 221-5420

George Cooper

March 05, 1939 - March 11, 2024

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