William 'Bill' Cooper

William "Bill" George Cooper, 73, of Danville, IL left us too soon on May 15, 2024, after a brave battle with frontotemporal dementia.

Bill was born on March 22, 1951, in Danville, IL the son of Clara and William Cooper. He married his college sweetheart, Brenda Hinton, in October of 1973 at McKinley Methodist Church. She preceded him in death on December 31, 2015. In August 2018, he married Vicki Trask, and she survives.

Bill is also survived by his daughter Erin (Steve) Gardner of Fair Lawn, NJ and their children Summer and Lauren, and his son Bradley (Norie) Cooper of Overland Park, KS, and their children Caroline, Will, Anna, and Helen.

Surviving siblings include Helen Stitt of Lisle, IL, Joe (Phyllis) Cooper of Boynton Beach, FL, and Phil (Linda) Cooper of Wheaton, IL. Several nieces and nephews also survive.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Brenda Cooper, his sister, Anne Lahne, and brother-in-law Tom Stitt.

Bill began his career as an educator in Danville School District 118 as a teacher at Washington Elementary School. He went on to teach at Roselawn and Northridge. Towards the end of his career Bill held various positions as an administrator at Danville High School, Garfield Elementary School, and he ended his career as the principal at Southview Middle School. He touched many lives in the classroom and as a basketball and cross-country coach. During summer breaks, Bill could be found painting houses around Danville as co-owner of Cooper-Gholson Painting.

Over the years Bill enjoyed the friendships he made through his childrens athletic activities. His father instilled in him a love of thoroughbred horse racing that he enjoyed with his brothers throughout his life. Bill spent part of his retired years working at Keeneland Racetrack in Lexington, KY. He was a passionate Green Bay Packers fan and enjoyed many trips with family and friends to Lambeau Field. Bill was also a die-hard Atlanta Braves fan who always knew where they stood in the standings. In retirement, Bill and Brenda discovered, and fell in love with, The Villages, FL. They eventually owned a home in the retirement community where he became an avid golfer.

Bill spent most of his life as a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, and later in life he belonged to Bethel Lutheran Church. Bill found friendship and fellowship at each of these churches. He was a dedicated and long-time board member at the Education Personnel Federal Credit Union and looked forward to his performance at the annual members banquet.

Bill was a patient and quiet man known to have a dry sense of humor and a quick wit. Bills attitude and demeanor throughout his struggle with dementia was truly amazing and it made a lasting impact on all who encountered him during these trying times, including caregivers, medical staff, and his loved ones. He was happiest with his grandchildren near him either on the lakes of Wisconsin or at the pools and golf courses in Florida.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at Bethel Lutheran Church in Danville, Illinois, 901 W Fairchild St., Danville, IL 61832. Pastor Ed Stone will officiate. Burial will be in Gundy Cemetery in Bismarck. Visitation will be held from 5-7:00 PM on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Danville, Illinois, 3940 N Vermilion St. Danville, IL 61834.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, friends may want to donate The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD) or Second Stride, which is a program that provides professional rehabilitation, retraining, and placement of retired Thoroughbred racehorses.

Donations to Second Stride can be made by mail at PO Box 143, Prospect, KY 40059 or through their website https://secondstride.networkforgood.com/projects/48453-connecting-hearts-with-second-stride.

Memorial donations to AFTD can be made to The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD) at 2700 Horizon Drive, Suite 120, King of Prussia, PA 19406 or online at http://www.theaftd.org/ in memory of Bill Cooper.

Please join Bills friends and family in sharing memories, photos, and videos on his tribute wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com .