Mary Ellen Wilson

Mary Ellen Wilson, 81, formerly of Cobden, IL, died at 10:06 a.m. Sunday, January 16, 2005 at Mercy Hospice in Johnston, IA, surrounded by her family. 

She was born June 10, 1923 in Ullin, IL, the daughter of Maurice and Lillian Lang Rendleman. She married John Cooper September 26, 1947 in Battle Creek, MI; he preceded her in death in 1955.

She was a member of the St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Cobden. She retired in 1999 from Iowa Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines, where she worked as a dietician for many years.

She is survived by by three sons, David (Lori) Cooper of Toronto, Canada, Kenneth (Tammy) Cooper of Des Moines and Michael Cooper of Gardner, KS; one daughter, Diane (Stephen) Comstock of Cave Creek, AZ; twelve grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; two brothers, Maurice and Eugene; and one sister, Betty Rendleman.

Funeral services are 11 a.m. Wednesday, January 19 at the Lutz & Rendleman Funeral Home in Cobden, IL, with Father Dennis Schaefer officiating. Interment will be in the St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery in Cobden. Friends may call from 9 a.m. until the time of the service Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Source: Des Moines Register, The (IA) - January 19, 2005