Tom Cooper

Tom Cooper, 89, of Atlantic, Iowa, passed away Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at the Friendship Home in Audubon.

Thomas Leo the son of Harold Herbert and Hallie Anita (Dement) Cooper was born on August 18, 1935, north of Anita, Iowa, in his parents’ farmhouse. He graduated from Adair High School. He served in the United States Army during the Korean War and was selected to be a member of the Honor Guard.

He was united in marriage to Shara Lee Chadwick on October 21, 1956, at the Congregational Church in Anita, Iowa, in a double wedding with her sister, Linda. To this union, three children were born, Mark, Dana and Melodie. The couple enjoyed getting together with friends to play cards and as a family they took annual two-week summer trips to Colorado and Wyoming.

He was an upholsterer and started Atlantic Upholstery in 1961. Tom was a skilled wood worker and could make anything that you could think of, even if it did include a few trips to the hospital from time to time. He crafted coffee tables with pegs (not a nail or screw to be found!) for all the kids, a hope chest for Melodie and toys for the grandchildren.

He was a member of the United Church of Christ. He was a volunteer for the Civil Air Patrol and the Atlantic Police Department Reserves, serving for a very short period as Chief. In retirement, he and Shara planted and harvested plentiful bounty from their garden that they shared with others at garden market and on a cart out in front of the house, went antiquing, enjoyed driving their Model T and worked at the food pantry.

Tom is survived by his wife, Shara; sons, Mark (Susan) Cooper, Dana (Sandy) Cooper both of Atlantic; daughter, Melodie (Kent Kerber) Cooper of Audubon; two grandchildren, Jennifer (Chris) Schriver with their children, Phineas and Gideon and Shelby (Chris) Burgess; step-grandchildren, Amanda, Goldie and Melissa; and brother, Keith (Deanna) Cooper of Atlantic.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Hallie Cooper; brother, Clark Cooper; and sisters, Connie (Dale) Jensen and Sherrill (Jr.) Karns.

Visitation with the family present will be held from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 25th at Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, June 26th at the United Church of Christ in Atlantic, with Pastor Heather Santi-Brown officiating. To honor Tom’s service in the United States Army, military honors will be conducted by the Atlantic Color Guard. The family invites you to join them for lunch in the fellowship hall immediately following the service.

Interment will be held at a later date at the Evergreen Cemetery in Anita.

Roland Funeral Service is caring for Tom's family and his arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.