Lt. Colonel Jack B. Cooper, age 78 of New Port Richey, Florida and Fremont, Michigan, passed away Sunday, May 12, 2013 at his home in Fremont. Jack was born on December 15, 1934 while his parents were stationed in Colon, Republic of Panama. His father, Ariel B. Cooper was a Career Army Officer as was his step father, Loren D. Pegg. Jack was brought up in the Army. His father and later his step father served in Panama, Fort Jay and Fort Monmouth, West Point, Fort Knox and again at Fort Monmouth. Jack graduated from the Red Bank High School in New Jersey and entered the United States Military Academy Class of 1957. After graduation he married Joan MacIntosh, together they had two sons and Jack and Joan were together for 52 years until her death in 2009. Jacks first assignment was to the Basic Armor Officer course at Fort Knox. While there his first son, Blair was born. After completing the airborne course at Fort Benning in early 1958, he and his new family were sent to Regensburg, Germany where he spent three years in the 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Calvary Regiment. He started this assignment as a Second Lieutenant Platoon Leader and moved to Troop Executive Officer and finally to Troop Commander of K Troop. While in Europe his second son, Mike was born. He returned to the United States in 1961 and as assigned to the 1st Experimental Regiment at Fort Ord. While there as Bn. Operations Officer, S3, he activated the 4th Bn. 73rd Armored Regiment. From 1963 1964 he attended the Armor Officers Advanced Course at Fort Knox where he graduated second in his class. He then was sent to Vietnam for his first tour. He served as advisor to the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Regiment, 1st ARVD Division. The battalion was stationed in Ashou Valley at Tabat and Aloui. The mission of the unit was to interdict the Ho Chi Minh Trail and stop the movement of the NVA troops and supplies along the border with Laos. Upon his return in 1965, he attended the Graduate School of Northwestern University in Boston, where he graduated in 1967 with a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering. To utilize his degree he was posted as an Instructor and Assistant Professor in the Department of ES and GS. He departed there in 1970 to attend the Command and General Staff College of Fort Leavenworth. Following the course he was sent to Vietnam and his second tour. He served as an Action Officer in the office of MACV J3-06. And among other duties, was responsible for the MACVs interdiction effort to stop the infiltration of North Vietnamese soldiers and supplies into South Vietnam. Evidently his mission during his first tour was not a success! After completion of that year he and his family were assigned to Rio De Janeiro, Brazil for a very pleasant three years in the U.S. Embassy. Their two sons attended the Brazilian American School and were completely assimilated in the Brazilian society. Finally in 1975, they returned to Fort Leavenworth where Jack served as an instructor in the Command and General Staff College, Department of Command. Jack retired from the United States Army in the fall of 1978. His decorations included the Combat Infantry Badge of which he was most proud. Also received several Bronze Stars and Air Medals, VN Cross of Gallantry and various commendations and service awards. As a civilian, Jack joined Gerber Products Company as Director of Engineering and had many interesting assignments, building new production facilities and renovating and improving other plants around the world. Assignments took him to China, India, Japan, Egypt, Poland, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Mexico and Canada and finally the United States. Jack and Joan spent over three years in Mexico where he was the Director of Manufacturing for the Mexico operations. Jack retired from Gerber in 1995 after more than 19 years of service. He and Joan then spent their time between a house on a golf course in New Port Richey, Florida and a home in Fremont (the home of Gerber Products Company) The spring and fall migration continued for Jack and Joan for 14 years until Joan passed away in Florida on November 18, 2009. He later met an angel sent to him by his first angel-Joan. Alice King and Jack were married on June 11, 2011 and she survived him along with his two sons, Blair (Karen) Cooper of Denver, Colorado; Mike (Cindy) Cooper of Fountain, Michigan; two step daughters, Deborah (Greg) Hellman of Tampa, Florida; Cynthia (Larry) Locklear of Bushnell, Florida; his sister, Pat Jones of South Carolina; sister-in-law, Dee (Dave) Talbot of Tampa, Florida; a granddaughter, Ginny; four grandsons, Casey, Cody, Evan, and Seth; one great grandson, Tyler; four step grandchildren, Christina Hellman, Garrett Hellman, Edward Linsky and Novalie Linksy. Memorial services will be held on Monday, June 10, 2013 at 10:30am at the Dobies Funeral Home Seven Springs Chapel in New Port Richey, Florida following cremation with inurnment at the Academy Columbarium with his first wife, Joan, in the Old Cadet Chapel at West Point on Wednesday, June 12, 2013. Friends may consider memorial contributions to the American Cancer Society.