Raus C. Cooper

Raus C. Cooper, age 73, of Henderson County and Burlington, Iowa; passed away at the Oak Lane Nursing and Rehab Center in Stronghurst, IL on May 25th, 2009. Raus was born on August 14, 1935 in Oquawka, Illinois; and is the son of Cecil and Gertrude Lynn Cooper. He was raised in Oquawka where he attended grade school and graduated from G & O High School. He then attended and completed his B.S. in Education from Western Illinois University in Macomb, IL in 1961. Raus served in the United States Marine Corp and attained the rank of Corporal from 1954 to 1957. He married Wanda Lee Dixon on May 24, 1957 in Raus first taught for the Oquawka School District at the Oquawka and Gladstone schools for five years. He then was employed by the Illinois Department of Public Aid in Oquawka, from 1965 to 1982 For several years Raus also substitute taught from 1982 to 1987. He then was employed by the City of Burlington in Park Maintenance mainly at Perkins Park from 1985 to 1997. He also worked for several years in Sporting Goods at WalMart in Burlington. Raus has been an athletic official for over thirty years, officiating many local sporting events in the area. While in Oqauwka Raus and Wanda were members of the Oqauwka United Methodist Church and now are members of Grace United Methodist Church in Burlington, Iowa. He was member of the Oquawka Kiwanis Club and was a past secretary and president. He was a member of the former Henderson County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7082 in Gladstone, IL and had served as it's post commander. He also was an assistant Scout Master for Boy Scout Troop #61. Surviving is his wife Wanda L. Cooper of Burlington, Iowa Two Daughters Chris Clark ( Jay ) of Lake Ozark, Missouri and Lisa Thompson ( Mike ) of Oquawka, Illinois; One Son Steve Cooper of West Burlington, Iowa. Five Grandchildren Josh ( Sarah) Clark, Nicole Kinney, Shanah ( Jon ) Sullivan, and Justin (PJ) Thompson and Ethan Thompson. Two Great Grandchildren Kaydence Kinney and Keagan Clark Two Sisters Marianna Thorndike of Aledo, Illinois and Elaine Emery of Davenport, Iowa One Brother Clyde ( Juanita) Cooper of Aurora, Colorado Raus is preceded in death by his parents, by one brother Mitchell, and One sister Peggy Fye. Services:A funeral service will be at 10:30 am on Friday May 29, 2009 at Turnbull Funeral Home in Oquawka, Illinois. His family plans to receive friends for the hour prior to the service 9:30 to 10:30 am on Friday. Cremation will be accorded following the service. Interment will be in the Oquawka Cemetery at a later date. In Lieu of flowers, memorial funds are being established for Boy Scouts of America Troop 61 or " Special Needs" of Burlington, Iowa or Grace United Methodist Church in Burlington, Iowa.