Judith "Judy" Gottlieb Cooper

October 28, 1922 - February 20, 2011

Judith “Judy” Gottlieb Cooper, 88, of Overland Park, KS, passed away Sunday, February 20, 2011, of complications from Alzheimer’s disease. Funeral services will be 10:30am, Monday February 21 at The Louis Memorial Chapel, 6830 Troost Ave. Burial Kehilath Israel Blue Ridge Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Care Alternatives Hospice, 1420 NW Vivion Rd., Suite 1C, KCMO 64118 and/or The Schifman Hunger Fund at Kehilath Israel Synagogue at 10501 Conser, Overland Park,KS 66212. The family would like to thank the wonderful caregivers at Bickford Senior Living of Overland Park and Care Alternatives. Judy was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and homemaker. She was a member of Kehilath Israel Synagogue for over 50 years, and attended services regularly as long as her health permitted. Born in Fulda, Germany on October 28, 1922, Judy emigrated from Germany to the United States in April 1937 with her brother Ludwig. Two years later, on the day Judy graduated from Central High School, their father, stepmother, and younger sister Miriam joined them in Kansas City, MO. After graduation, Judy worked at Mayfair Garment Company. In February 1943, Judy’s father introduced her to Irving Cooper, whom he met in naturalization class. They married on July 4, 1943, raised four children, and enjoyed 41 years together, until his passing in 1984. Throughout her life, Judy donated much of her time to charity work. She volunteered with the Cub Scouts, the PTA at JC Nichols Elementary School (including sewing for Mutual Aid, a program that provided clothing to underprivileged students), KU Medical Center as a “Gray Lady,” K.I. Sisterhood, the Jewish War Veterans Womens Auxiliary , the Jewish Federation, Shalom Geriatric Center, and the Marcella Rodin Club, among other organizations. Judy was recognized with several service awards, including “Woman of the Year”, twice, by the JWVA. Though a shy and modest person, Judy enjoyed the company of her many friends, including her life-long best friend, Sylvia Rosegg, whom she met at a summer health camp in Germany in 1932, and later reunited with in Kansas City. Judy and Irving were members of many organizations, including the informal Saturday Night Club, which grew out of the Y-Bacs Club of the Jewish Community Center. Survivors include her sister, Miriam Berline; sister-in-law, Marianne Gottlieb; children and spouses: Deanna Rudd (Jeff), Jay Cooper (Valerie Wolf), Mark Cooper (Sharon), and David Cooper (Linda). She especially loved her five grandchildren: Jenifer Cooper Harmon (Hans), Susanna Lee Cooper, Jeremy Cooper (Melinda), Brian Cooper (Kimberly), and Emily Cooper Luea (Zach).