Melba Cooper

Melba (Schnier) Cooper, 86 of Pender, NE, passed away Saturday, September 03, 2016 at Legacy Garden Living and Rehabilitation Center in Pender. Funeral services will be Tuesday, September 6, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Bancroft, NE; Pastor Robert Schilling will be officiating. Visitation will be Monday, September 5, 2016 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Munderloh-Smith Funeral Home in Pender, NE. Burial will be at the Bancroft Cemetery in Bancroft, NE. Memorials may be directed to the family for future designation to various Veterans organizations. Arrangements are under the direction of Munderloh-Smith Funeral Home in Bancroft, NE. Melba was born October 27, 1929 to Gerhard and Adeline (VonSeggern) Schnier in Pender, NE. She graduated from Pender High School in 1946. On December 21, 1947, she married Glenn E. Cooper in Pender. Together they farmed for many years, and then Glenn began selling grain bins. In addition, they could see the need for the manufacturing and selling of agriculture products, and established Triple "C" Products in Bancroft NE. Several years later they also ventured into a second business, and established Northeast Tractor Salvage in Lyons NE. Both Glenn and Melba enjoyed serving the local farmers and area businesses. Melba joined St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Bancroft on October 21, 1969 where she served on the Alter Society and was an officer countless times. She also was a Hospice volunteer for many years. Melba loved helping her church and community, but most of all, she loved spending time with her family. She is survived by her sons; Gary (CynDee) Cooper of Bancroft, NE, Clayton (Trudy) Cooper of West Point, NE; daughter, Glenda (Mike) Gatzemeyer of Pender, NE; 7 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. Melba was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Glenn Cooper; and siblings, Gerald Schnier, Agnus Johnson, Les Schnier, Wilma Nixon, and Kenny Schnier.