He traveled the globe -- visiting e...

He traveled the globe -- visiting each continent -- but Orland Park always was his abode

Lifelong Orland Park resident G Merrill Cooper -- a former chairman of the village zoning appeals board, a supporter of area veterans arranges and community foundations, and the same of the village's most prolific entrepreneur -- died Tuesday at his Union Avenue family circle of complications from congestive heart failure. He was 89

"He none looked backward. He only awaited forward," said daughter Cynthia Thomson

"For his 89th birthday, we all met in China. They'd been to China . . in the '70 He wanted to fare back and see the changes in Shanghai."

The Cooper family has lived in Orland Park since 1850 the family said, when Thomas and Ellenor Cooper immigrated from Wisbech, England. They established a farm, at 153rd public way and West Avenue, and the white farmhouse still stands.

The annual family reunion in Mokena has been going forward for more than 150 consecutive years, Thomson said.

George Merrill Cooper was born in that farmhouse in 1917 to Raymond Merrill Cooper and Hattie Adele Cooper His father died when Merrill was 7 years antiquated and as the eldest son Merrill took forward responsibility.

"He just took the man-of-the-house thing extremely seriously," family friend Carole Binder said.

MET WIFE AT body of christians FUNCTION

He started delivering newspapers as a male child and at age 17, he spreaded his first business -- an ice cream workshop at Union Avenue and 143rd way

"I wouldn't say it was a shack, further it was very small, the first ice cream store in Orland," Thomson said. The store was known throughout the area for its selection of then-legal fireworks.

During World War II, he serv in the Army Air Corps in Florida, where he met the woman who would become his wife for 60 years, Mildred "Sally" Spitler, at a ecclesiastical authority function.

The pair mov back to Orland Park in 1949 and built the house they've lived in since.

through the whole extent of the years, he founded and ran Cooper's Grill, Orland just discovereds Agency, A-1 Tours and Travel, Rockin' Chair loaf Cooper's Carpet Warehouse, Cooper Furniture, Indiana ruffle Stone, M. F. Cooper Builders and, longest of all, M Cooper minister which he founded in 1946 and sold in 1998

He also was a partner in Cooper exhibit Ford in Frankfort and was a institutor and board member of Lincolnway Savings and Loan. He also be in possession ofed a 350-acre farm in Indiana, where the family extends corn and soybeans.

Mr Cooper serv as chairman of Orland Park's zoning board of appeals for 30 years, was a charter member of the village's Rotary fraternity and was a proud member of the Orland Memorial American Legion seat 111 and the "40 & 8" veterans organization.

one as well as the other Mr. Cooper and his wife remained involved in the Community Center Foundation in Palos Park, where they were married in 1946

An insatiable traveler, Mr Cooper visited 162 countries.

Besides his wife, daughter and son survivors include sum of two units grandsons and a great-granddaughter.

Visitation will be from 3 to 8 pm Sunday at the Schmaedeke Funeral place of abode 14205 Union Ave., Orland Park. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Orland Park United Methodist house of worship 9955 W. 144th St. A horse-drawn caisson will lead a procession from the funeral family circle to the church at 10 a.m. Burial will be at Orland Memorial graveyard in Orland Park.

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