Gary J. Cooney, age 81 of Hudson, passed away Wednesday Sept. 11, 2024, at Cedar Valley Hospice Home in Waterloo.
A Celebration of Life will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, at Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo. The family will receive friends from 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, at the funeral home. Inurnment will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Waterloo at 2:00 p.m. A memorial fund has been established. Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo, is in charge of arrangements.
He is survived by his wife Elaine; a daughter, Alisa Cooney of Waterloo; siblings Mike (Jade) of Patriot, Ind., Frank (Debbie) of Solon, Tim (Janine) of Urbandale, and Jeannette Cooney of Johnston; along with nieces, nephews, and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, Emmett and Garth.
Gary Joseph Cooney was born Oct. 16, 1942, in Hawthorne Calif., the son of Joseph and Lois Hoyle Cooney. He graduated from Iowa Valley High School in 1961 and attended State College of Iowa, now U.N.I. Gary served in the United States Air Force from 1962 to 1970, stationed in Texas, Okinawa Oklahoma, New York, and served two tours in Vietnam. He and Alice Elaine Hayes were married on Jan. 2, 1965, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Marengo. Gary served as Iowa County Deputy Sheriff for two years. He served with the Iowa State Patrol for 28 years, achieving the rank of captain. He retired from the Patrol in October of 2000.
Gary enjoyed his life of service to his country, his state and his community. He was a member of the Iowa State Troopers Association, Iowa State Patrol Supervisors, the Iowa State Police Association, the National Troopers Association, the Hudson Lions Club, Wilton Municipal Light and Power Board of Trustees. He served as chairman of the Hudson Municipal Electric Utility for five years, and chairman of the Cedar Valley Corvette Club for two years. He loved spending time driving the countryside in his Corvette, and vacations at the beach.
Online condolences: www.klosterfuneralhome.com.
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