Barbara G. Cooper, a very caring and compassionate woman went home to her Lord and Savior on December 2, 2023, in Coffeyville, Kansas. Barbara was a resident of Medicalodges on Midland where she had received care for just a little over a year after her health began to fail. Medicalodges, formerly known as Windsor Place, was where Barbara worked for over 29 years until she retired. Even though it was not home it was a place that felt comfortable to her.

 

 

 

Barbara was the daughter of Herbert Richard and Gerda Elisabeth (Glagao) Israel, born on March 13, 1946, in Verden-Aller Germany. The Israel Family began their journey to immigrate to America in December of 1956 arriving 9th of January in 1957, at Ellis Island. Barbara’s dad received sponsorship by the Augsburg Lutheran Church in Toledo, Ohio, allowing his family to have a chance of a better life. After settling in Barbara and her sister began attending grade school in Toledo where also completed her education as a young woman graduating from High School.

 

 

 

After graduating from high school Barbara married her only son Richard’s father. In the 1960’s her husband was stationed in German while serving in the US Armed Forces, returning to Ohio in 1967. The family then moved to California where Barbara worked as a cook and other domesticated jobs until going to work for the Pinkertons as a security guard, she was quite proud to say that she was a Pinkerton. In 1977 the family moved to Coffeyville, allowing for an easier and simpler way of life. The couple later divorced but Barbara and Richard remained in Coffeyville.

 

 

 

Jesse Cooper, Barbara’s late husband was a professional “Santa Claus.’ He frequently visited the nursing home during Christmas where their friendship began and turned to courtship and marriage. She then became “Mrs. Claus” and the real Mrs. Cooper on June 5, 1982. Richard as a young boy tagged along as “Rudolph” and that tradition continued into his adulthood.

 

 

 

Barbara was a devoted Christian, and faithful member of Bible Baptist Church and was always willing to help in any area of the church. She had many God given talents, and one was with the gift of encouragement. Barbara was a fair-minded person who loved everyone equally and encouraged people to be all that God intended for them to be.

 

 

 

Barbara loved reading and writing poetry and was a longtime member of the Coffeyville Night Writers. Music was a daily part of her life, teaching her son to appreciate all types of music. Most would not have known this about Barbara but the louder the music the better!!!

 

 

 

Life for Barbara has always included her son Richard (his wife Monia) and he will forever cherish the love and dedication his mother has always given him and his family. She loved going “Shop Lifting” with her grandchildren, she did the shopping, and they did the heavy lifting that she could not do any longer. She loved her grandchildren Elizabeth, Albert, and Fayanna Pate, great grandchildren Lester and Katie Pate; Her sister who she loved dearly Dagmar Rinderknecht and husband David and special niece Roxanne Terry and a host of friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.

 

 

 

The family will receive friends on Thursday, December 7, 2023, at Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel, 2405 Woodland Ave., Coffeyville from 3 - 6 pm. Funeral services will be held on Friday, December 8, 2023, at 1:00 pm at Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel with burial following at North Edna Cemetery in Edna, Kansas. To view streaming of the service, leave a message of condolence or share a memory visit www.fordwulfbrunschapel.com