A memorial service will be held on Friday, June 10, in the Chapel at the VA Northern Indiana Health Care System, 1700 E. 38^th St., Marion, IN.  Visitation will be from 12:30 – 1:00 p.m. with the memorial service beginning at 1:00 p.m.  Interment services with military rites will immediately follow at 2:00 p.m. in the Marion National Cemetery.

Steven Brent Cooper, 62, passed away on May 17, 2016, in Marion, IN.

Steve was born July 4, 1953, in Elkhart, IN, to Marion “Bud” and Margaret (Morehouse) Cooper. He was preceded in death by his mother, paternal grandparents Marion and Theda (Thomas) Cooper, and maternal grandparents John D. and Mary (Slabaugh) Morehouse.

In addition to his father and stepmother Betty (Morton), Steve is survived by his brothers Douglas of Elkhart and Thomas (Rachel) of South Bend; sisters Pamela (Jonathan) Kish of Osceola and Janine (Kevin) Meersman of South Bend; stepsisters Renee (Jamie) Miller of Granger and Crystal (Vince) Cooper of Osceola; nephews Benjamin (Brittany) Kish of Indianapolis, Nicolas Meersman of Mishawaka, and Jared Cooper of South Bend; nieces Kari (Scott) Wagner of Rockville, MD, and Lauren, Megan, and Karinne Cooper of South Bend; and grandniece Cameron Wagner of Rockville, MD.

Steve graduated from Jackson High School, South Bend, in 1971, and served in the United States Air Force immediately after. He graduated in 1978 from Napa Valley Junior College, Napa, CA, as a psychology technician. He was a lifelong Cubs and Bears fan, enjoyed the outdoors, classic rock and blues, loved animals, disc golf, and excelled at games involving strategy, especially chess and Monopoly. Steve loved good food and drink, especially if others were buying! He was always curious and never gave up on his principles.  Steve traveled solo across North America and Canada during a two-week vacation while living in Napa, CA, for much of the 70s and 80s. He moved back to South Bend in the late 80s and relocated to Fort Wayne around 2010.

Steve’s family would like to thank the staff of Unit 2B of the Marion Campus of the VA Northern Indiana Health Care System to their care and kindnesses to Steve. He enjoyed the many games of chess from those willing to play him! Thanks also to Lou Reynolds for her care and opening her home to Steve during his stay with her.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, June 10, in the Chapel at the VA Northern Indiana Health Care System, 1700 E. 38^th St., Marion, IN.  Visitation will be from 12:30 – 1:00 p.m. with the memorial service beginning at 1:00 p.m.  Interment services with military rites will immediately follow at 2:00 p.m. in the Marion National Cemetery.

Contributions in memory of Steve may be made to the Humane Society or NAMI.

Steve passed away too soon and will be missed.