Alan Glenn Cooper

Alan Glenn Cooper, age 66, of Menahga, MN passed away on November 12th, 2019, surrounded by his family. Alan was born in Aberdeen, WA on May 16th, 1953 to Jerry and Aileen (Lokken) Cooper, the second of what would become three children.  Al spent his earliest years in Washington attending Stevens Elementary and then Washington Middle School.  The Cooper family was blessed to have extended family nearby, therefore Al grew up making lasting memories with his sister, brother, and some of his cousins. In 1964, the Cooper children relocated to Minnesota with their mother.  Al attended Eisenhower High School in Hopkins, MN, graduating in 1972. In 1980, Al met Brenda Hanninen and in October 1981, Al and Brenda welcomed their daughter Sara. Al had a great appreciation for classic cars, the louder, the faster, the better.  He spent much of the 80’s and 90’s racing stock cars at Raceway Park in Shakopee, MN.  He studied Auto Mechanics at ITT Technical Institute in Eden Prairie, MN. Many family members, friends, and fellow racers turned to Al for his mechanical knowledge and his willingness to help someone in need. In 1992, Al met and fell in love with Theresa (Sorenson) Talbot.  Al became a second father to her four children, Fernellie, Mitchel, Roseann, and Danielle.  In November 1994, Al and Theresa welcomed Colton, a son of their own. In 1996, Al and Theresa moved their family to a small hobby farm in Little Falls where they raised horses, chickens, ducks, pot bellied pigs and many dogs and cats over the years.  In 1998, Al and Theresa were united in marriage. 2012 brought a move to Menahga for Al, so he could be closer to his daughter Sara and his four grandchildren.  This is where he spent the rest of his days enjoying the company of family and good friends. Al was an honest, generous man, always helping whomever he could.  He loved his kids and his grandkids more than anything and told everyone he encountered how proud he was of his family.  Al lived life by his rules, loving big, working hard and playing hard. He always said he wasn’t here for a long time. He was here for a good time. Al will be missed forever by Sadie Noland of Menahga and her children Shawn, Britney, Mikey, Toni, and Danny, daughter Sara (Eric) Makela, son Colton Cooper, all of Menahga, grandchildren, Hailey Usher, Madison, Gracie and Emmitt Makela, brother Gene (Darcel) Cooper of Olympia, WA, sister Peggy Meyer of Montgomery, MN, brother Jim (Lilia) Cooper of Tenino, WA, step siblings Sandy (Ken) Scholl, Kathy (Pat) Flanigan, Mary (Larry) Hodge, Janet White, Therese Nadol, Kim Nielsen, Patty Shelstad, Becky Shelstad, and Mike Shelstad, a host of nieces, nephews, uncles, aunts, cousins and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, his step parents Maynard White and Rhodanne Cooper, sister Diana Smith, brother in law Mark Smith, step sister Judy Jones, and step brothers Tom White and Dick Shelstad. A Celebration of Life Gathering will be held at the Menahga VFW on Saturday, November 23rd from 2:00pm to 4:00pm.   Cremation services entrusted to Wevley Funeral Home, Sebeka, MN.