Regina Cooper

Return to Class of 1951

Regina Cooper07/24/2024
Regina Lee (Cooper) McDonald passed away peacefully on July 24, 2024, at her home surrounded by her loving family.
A visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Monday, July 29, 2024, at Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Chariton.
A funeral service will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, at the funeral home.

Regina will be laid to rest in Greenwood Cemetery in Knoxville, Iowa following services and a luncheon at the funeral home.
Regina was born on January 20, 1933, to John and Lena (Welch) Cooper.
She graduated from Knoxville High School with the class of 1951.

Following high school, she waitressed at the Shamrock Café in Knoxville.
She married John McDonald on September 7, 1957, in The Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa.
She worked side-by-side with her husband on the family farm and together they raised eight children.

Regina was a devout Christian and a member of the Columbia Baptist Church where she served as secretary and treasurer for over 30 years.
She enjoyed singing and playing the piano every Sunday for the congregation. She never hesitated to lend a hand whenever the church needed her.
As the years passed, Regina did not have any trouble keeping busy. She was an avid collector of cardinal figurines and loved feeding and watching the birds through her patio window.

She also had fun with her best friends Pat Braaksma, Betty DeZwarte, and Marilyn McDonald. An annual event for the four was a trip to the Iowa State Fair wearing colorful matching shirts.
More than anything else, Regina had an unwavering love of family. She knew how fortunate she was to watch her eight loving children grow into amazing adults.

They gave her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren, all of whom she adored. Her love was never-ending.
She was so excited with every new baby and always reminded everyone they were blessings from God. Regina had a remarkable memory for dates and special occasions.
She never missed a birthday or anniversary, marking each special day of family and friends with a personalized card created on her computer.
Her love of making cards eventually required a more efficient printer to keep up with demand.

Her loving family and friends will dearly miss Regina.
Regina Cooper
Regina is survived by her children: Vicki (Jim) Vanderlinden, Gwen ( fiancé Jerry Carter) Musick, Debbie (Rusty) Clark, Cindy (Dennis) Arnold, Julie (Eric) Arnold, Teresa Cobb, Connie (Brian) Long, and Dan (Tammy) McDonald; grandsons: Jason (Tabitha) Clark, Brian (Chelsy) Arnold, Wesley McDonald, Ben (Becca) Clark, Donald (Lucy) Long, Chris (Chelsea) Long, Chase (Megan) McDonald, and Dylan McDonald; granddaughters: Mindy (Donnie) Hundley, Missy (Jarrod) Dupre, Carrie (Mike) Bunnell, Julie Cobb, Nicole (Nick) Williams, Jenny (Rob Baumberger) Arnold, and Erin Carter; great grandchildren: Amanda, Cody, Haley, Kaitie, Lucas, Hunter, Layla, Isaac, Daniel, Avery, Naomi, Emma, Reese, Ryker, Clara, Dawson, Natalie, Logan, Dylon, Amber, Brentley, Violet, Treyton, Noel, Scarlett, and Cooper; great-great grandchildren, Caeden and Shaddixx; her sisters, Sandy Lafollette and Susie Verwers; and countless other family and friends.

Regina was preceded in death by her parents; husband, John McDonald; grandson, Johnny McCombs; great grandson, Christian Clark; brother, Edsel Cooper; sister, Arlene Harris; and her sons- in-law, Donnie McCombs and Harold Cobb.