Barbara J (Allison) Cooper

Barbara J. Cooper, 88, of West Des Moines, formerly of Newton, regained her sight and joined her husband, Warren in heaven on Sunday, November 24, 2019.  A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, November 30, 2019, at the Newton Union Cemetery. The service will be officiated by Barb's great-nephew, Pastor Ben Malloy.  The family will greet friends from 4-6 p.m., Friday, November 29, at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory.  Memorials to the Jasper County Courthouse Lighting Fund or the Community Foundation to be used for the Maytag Lights may be left at the funeral home. 

Barbara was born July 10, 1931 on the family farm in Bluff Creek Township, Monroe County, Iowa to the union of Archie E. Allison and Georgia Mae Smith Allison.

Barb graduated from Bussey High School with the class of 1950. In 1955 she went to work for the Vernon Company where she worked various jobs in the factory and the office throughout the next 38 years, finally retiring in 1993. Also, in 1955, Barb met and married the love of her life, Warren Cooper. Together they had two daughters, Pamela and Chandra. Barb and Warren enjoyed camping, dancing and spending their winters in McAllen, Texas after retirement. Pam and Chan have many memories of the yearly family vacations and many camping trips. Barb enjoyed doing many crafts including crocheting and painting until the loss of her eyesight prevented her from doing so.  Barb always took great pride in her appearance; never leaving the house without her lipstick on, hair done, nails painted, and dressed in the new outfit she had acquired during her latest shopping trip with her daughters. 

After a final visit, Barb’s faithful four-legged sidekick, Zoey became ill and preceded Barb in death by 18 hours. 

Barb is preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Warren; her parents Archie and Georgia Allison, a brother Billy, her sister Betty Clark, and a niece, Sandy Malloy. She is survived by her daughters Pam (Eric) Gardner of Waukee, Chandra Yates of River Falls, WI; a sister Louise McFarland of Newton; her grandchildren Shelby (Nick) Greenslade of Adel; Cassie Yates of Waukee, IA; Krysten Yates of St. Joseph, MI; Whitney Yates of River Falls, WI; and Marshall Yates of Hudson, WI as well as her 3 great-grandchildren Cooper and Kelsey Greenslade of Adel and Kaylan Snyder of Waukee. A niece and two nephews also survive.

The family would like to extend thanks to Unity Point Hospice for their gentle care provided to Barb in her final days as well as the guidance provided to her family during her journey. Also, a special thank you to the care team at Deerfield in Clive for the extraordinary care they provided Barb and the constant meals and snacks provided to her family during her final days.

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