Glen "Pete" O. Cooper

Okemos, Michigan

Professor emeritus at Michigan State University passed away on April 17, 2015 at the age of 93. He was born September 6, 1921, in Fairbury, Illinois and attended Illinois State University from 1939-1942. He entered the U.S. Army in 1942 and was assigned to the 239th Combat Engineer Battalion and served until 1946; one year of which was spent in North Carolina and Tennessee and three years in the southwest Pacific of New Guinea and the southern Philippines of Leyte, Panay, Negros, Cebu and Mindanao. After the war, he returned to Illinois State and earned his B.A. in 1947; his M.A. and Ph.D. were earned at Colorado State.

Pete served in various teaching and administrative positions in the public schools of Hopedale, Illinois; Boulder, Colorado; San Leandro, California and Grosse Pointe, Michigan before joining Michigan State University as an associate professor in 1966. While at Michigan State, he directed the Elementary Intern Program in the Greater Lansing Area. In addition, he also taught in the Michigan State Graduate Overseas Program in Tokyo, Okinawa, Manila, Jakarta, Singapore and Vienna.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Jeanne, of 59 years.

He is survived by daughters, Diane Geiler of Okemos, MI and Debra Hunter (Wayne) of Arlington, TX; grandson, Jake Geiler and granddaughters, Sheila Jones (Tyler) and Monica Hunter and great-grandson Finley Jones

The Funeral Mass will be conducted at St. Martha Parish, 1100 W. Grand River, Okemos, Tuesday, April 21, 11:00 am with Rev. Jonathan Wehrle officiating. The family will receive friends Monday, April 20, 5-7 pm at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, 1730 East Grand River Avenue, East Lansing, and one hour prior to the service at the church. The Rosary/Scripture will be prayed at 7 pm Monday. The Rite of Committal will follow at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.

On line condolences may be made at

www.greastlansing.com