Robert Lee Cooley

Robert L. Cooley, 74, Grand Forks, died Wednesday, December 24, 2008 in Golden Living Center, Moorhead, Minnesota. He died after a long and courageous battle from a work related accident doing what he enjoyed doing each spring and fall, which was soil sampling, visiting with farmers, sharing his lunch box goodies, and working for his son-in-law, Dave. Robert was born to Earl and Eva (Mosinski) Cooley on June 18, 1934 at Keota, Iowa. He attended school in Keota, Iowa before serving in the US Coast Guard. Robert Cooley and Alice Norberg were united in marriage on May 25, 1957 in Cleveland, Ohio. They lived at Keota, Iowa for two years prior to moving to Grand Forks. Robert was employed by the FAA as an air traffic controller. Alice Cooley died April 10, 2003. Bob was an avid outdoorsman. He loved fishing, hunting, gardening/yard work and doing his taxidermy. He always wanted to bet on who'd get the first and biggest, or whose garden would produce the fastest. You could never get by with just saying hi. He always knew which stores had the best sales. Bob (Dad) will be missed but he will always be remembered. Robert is survived by his children, Steven (Trish) Cooley, Watertown, SD, Daniel L. (Michelle) Cooley, Grand Forks, Linnea (David) Genereux, Crookston, MN, James (Lynn) Cooley, Grand Forks, and Janice (Chris) Cox, Lithia, FL; grandchildren, Chad (Fran) Cooley, Jennifer Muir, Christopher, Allison (fiancée, Dustin), Ashley Cooley, Nicholas (fiancée, Katrina), Matthew, Stephanie Genereux, and Benjamin Genereux, Jennifer (Tom) Rossmann, Alana Reynolds, Ryan (Katie) Reynolds, Briona Reynolds, Kathryn (Dean) Riggott, Zachary and Patrick Cooley, Haylee and Ian Cox; great-grandchildren, Austin Cooley, Nicole Novak, Austin and Elijah Reynolds, Thomas, Madisyn, and Blake Rossmann, Elijah Reynolds, Blake Rossmann, Grace, Ava, and Isabel Riggott, Jaelyn Cooley. He is preceded in death by his wife, his parents, granddaughters, Michelle Cooley, and Erin Cooley. Mass of Christian Burial: 10:30 a.m. Friday, January 2, 2009 in St. Mary's Catholic Church, 216 Belmont Rd., Grand Forks. Visitation: 4 to 6 p.m. with a 6:00 p.m. Prayer Service Thursday, January 1, 2009 in Amundson Funeral Home, 2975 S. 42nd St., Grand Forks and one hour prior to the service in the church.