Gary Gene Cooper

Gary G. Cooper, age 81, of Mapleton, died on April 23, 2026 at the Mapleton Community Home.

A private family burial will take place at Union Cemetery in Mapleton.

Gary was born on September 11, 1944 in Mankato to Howard and Orvella (Besser) Cooper. He graduated from Mapleton High School in 1963. On May 5, 1963, Gary was united in marriage to Sandra Jacobsen. He worked at Anderson Hatchery and later retired from Hiniker. Gary enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He also enjoyed photography and traveling out west and to Duluth and Canada. He liked watching Westerns on TV and collecting cowboy memorabilia.

Gary is survived by his wife, Sandra of Good Thunder; daughter, Kim Schoneck of Good Thunder; grandchildren, Nathan (Elizabeth) Denn of Fairmont, Travis Denn of Mapleton, Justin Schoneck of Fairmont, Jordan Schoneck of Mankato, and Britney Schoneck (Lance Flippin) of Lake Crystal; great-grandchildren, Lylah Flippin, Kinsley Flippin, Paisley Flippin, Annabelle Denn, and Dorothy Denn; son-in-law, Gary Denn of Mapleton; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Laura Denn; brothers, Dale and Larry Cooper; and sister, Carol (Harold) Hornstein.