Joanne Cooper

Joanne was born Joanne Puckett on June 4, 1946, to Donald and Evelyn Puckett in Westmoreland, Kansas where her parents were farmers. At 8 years old, Joanne and her family moved to Wamego, Kansas where her father worked as a carpenter. Joanne worked at Johnson’s Drug Store throughout high school and graduated from Wamego Rural High School in 1964. After high school, Joanne went to work at The Manhattan Pipe and Steel Company in Manhattan, Kansas. While in Manhattan, Joanne took a secretarial test at Kansas State University to become a secretary.

She met and married Daniel Robert Clark of St. George, Kansas in 1967. From that marriage, she had two children, Daniel Robert in 1969 and David Donald in 1971. That union dissolved in 1972.

Joanne then moved to Topeka, Kansas to work for the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce and raised her two sons there. She met Thomas William Cooper in 1978, and they were married in April of 1979. Tom adopted her two sons in August of 1979. The family lived in Akron, Ohio and Danville, Virginia.

Upon retirement, Joanne and Tom moved to Siesta Key, Florida. Joanne loved living in Florida and made many friends there. She belonged to and was active in Pine Shores Presbyterian Church and the Siesta Harbor Condominiums' activities.

Joanne and Tom had many happy years together until his death in January 2021. After Tom’s death, Joanne moved to Kansas City to be near her son, Dave.

Joanne is preceded in death by her loving husband, Tom Cooper, her parents, Donald and Evelyn Puckett, her sister Dorothy Finley, her daughter-in-law Allison Cooper, her great-grandson Ryland Talbott, and dear friend Pat Marquardt. Joanne leaves behind her son David Cooper of Missouri, grandchildren Austin(Jill) Talbott of Virginia, Thomas “Jake” Cooper of Texas, Joshua Cooper of Missouri, Mary-Grace Cooper of Missouri, Megan (Cade) Robertson of Texas, Evan Talbott of Virginia, Faith Cooper of Texas, Nathan Cooper of Missouri, Chaz Cooper of Texas, Joey Cooper of Texas, Amanda Talbott of Virginia, Ben Cooper of Missouri, and Jonah Cooper of Missouri; great-grandchildren Ashton Talbott of Virginia and Emma Joanne Robertson of Texas; nieces Tena (Kevin) Welch of Kansas and Cindy (Bryan) Cook of Kansas; grand-nephews K.J. Welch of Kansas and Sam Cook of Kansas; grand-niece Elizabeth Welch of Washington; special cousin Cecil (Kathy) Stegman of Kansas and several other Puckett cousins; her long-time friend Sue(Wayne) Coeburn of North Carolina and many other relatives and friends.