Joyce M. Cooper was born December 5, 1928 in Le Mars, Iowa, to Joseph and Mary (Meuller) Bohlke. Joyce grew up in the Le Mars, Remsen and Oyens, Iowa area. She graduated from Le Mars High School in 1946. Following high school she attended Business College in Sioux City, Iowa. She was married to Don L. Cooper on August 27, 1952 in Oyens, Iowa at St. Catherine's Catholic Church. After they were married the couple resided in Shenandoah, Iowa.
While in Shenandoah, Joyce worked for the Iowa State Department of Transportation in the driver licensing division and did seasonal work at Henry Fields Nursery. She was active in St. Mary's Catholic Church in Shenandoah and Avoca, as well as being a member of the Red Hat Society. Joyce loved reading, weaving rugs and placemats, keeping up on current events by reading the paper, reading cookbooks and finding new recipes. She especially loved spending time with her family.
Joyce is preceded in death by her husband, Don L. Cooper; brother, Kenneth Bohlke and Teressa Berndt. She is survived by her son, Craig Cooper and wife Jackie of Thornton, CO; daughter, Laurie Berndt and husband Morris of Avoca, IA; seven grandchildren, Bryan Berndt of Avoca, Aaron Berndt of Chicago, IL, Andrea Berndt of Phoenix, AZ, Stephen Berndt of Iowa City, and Patricia Berndt of Avoca, and Maria and Kyle Cooper of Thornton, CO; great granddaughter, Grayce Berndt of Iowa City; three brothers, Wayne Bohlke of Lesueur, MN, David Bohlke of Minneapolis, MN and Glen Bohlke of Virginia Beach, VA; other relatives and many friends.