“Smokin’ Joe Cooper” took his last checkered flag at the age of 59 at 9:45 a.m. Monday, August 7, 2017.
Smokin’ Joe was a man of many words on and off the race track. It didn’t matter who you were, you were a friend to him. He was the life of the party. He was a tough, yet stubborn man and had a strong love for racing and his family.
He married the love of his life, Debbie Clawson on September 18, 1975 in Burlington.
Throughout his life he was an accomplished sprint car driver, birth control tester, and he could fix anything. Joseph Michael Cooper was the first baby born on January 1, 1958 in Plainwell, Michigan. He enjoyed fishing, riding motorcycles, ATVs, and his true passion was sprint car racing.
Smokin’ Joe’s greatest accomplishment in life was his three children, Jody Cooper, Jamie (Brandon) Limkemann, and Crystal (Clinton) Stimpson. He spent a great amount of time with his grandchildren, Gavin Springsteen, Shelby Limkemann, Nevaeh Stimpson, Gage Stimpson, Aden Freitag, and Miley Stimpson who brought joy to his life.
He also had a great love for all of his nieces and nephews that he treated like his own. He grew up bickering with his siblings, Carol (Denny) Fritz, Sandy Cooper, Bill Cooper and Pam Eversmeyer.
Smokin’ Joe lived life like every day was a party.
The funeral service for Smokin’ Joe will be 11 a.m. Friday, August 11th, at Lunning Chapel with Pastor Ned Fry officiating. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m. today at Lunning Chapel. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established to help with final expenses.
Mrs. Valerie A. Hester Lee, 58, of West Burlington went home to be with the Lord at 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 9, 2017, at her home.
Born October 9, 1958 in Iowa City she was the daughter of Wayne E. and Anna Mae (Schlieper) Hester. She married Steve Powell in 1979 at Danville Baptist Church. On September 29, 2003 she married David A. Lee in Middletown.
Mrs. Lee was a 1977 graduate of West Burlington High School. She completed a two year program at Christ Unlimited Bible Institute and was ordained as a minister in 2006.
Mrs. Lee was self-employed in cleaning houses. In addition she was a Burlington Police Chaplain for 13 years and served in Jail Ministry for 12 years. She was a member of Fredonia Assembly of God Church and participated in many missionary trips worldwide. She loved to garden, can produce, remodel homes, and sew. Mostly she loved sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Survivors include her husband, David Lee of West Burlington, one daughter, Sarah (Chad) Stamper of Burlington; two sons, Daniel Powell of Atlanta, Georgia and Joel (Ginny) Powell of LaHarpe, Illinois; two step sons, Joseph (Debbie) Arnold of Galesburg, Illinois and Jamie (Becky) Lee of Alexandria, Missouri; one step daughter, Michelle Lee of Alexandria, Missouri; 14 grandchildren; six great grandchildren; four brothers, Terry Southerland, Steven (Mary Caskry) Hester and Charles (Liz Eggleston) Hester all of Burlington and Wayne (Carrie) Hester of Mount Pleasant; five sisters, Barbara (Joe) Foster and Christine (Michael) Dwight both of Burlington, Roxanne (Tony) Bennett of Redfield, Iowa, Diana (Jack) Gomez of Earlham, Iowa and Mary (Phillip) Lott of Morning Sun and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents.
Friends may call from 1 until 5 p.m. Friday, August 11th, at Lunning Chapel.
The funeral service for Mrs. Lee will be 11 a.m. Saturday, August 12th, at Lunning Chapel with Pastor Jim Ruberg officiating. Interment will be in Burlington Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 9 a.m. until the time of service on Saturday.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established.
