Allen Cooper of Port Washington, formerly of Edgerton and Butler, went home to be with his Lord and Savior Saturday morning, November 19, 2022. He was 96 years old.

Allen was raised on a farm near the Rock River, attended a single room grade school and graduated from Milton Union High School. He was selected from a national test to enter the US Navy V5, V12 program at Illinois State Normal University. The unit was transferred to the University of Illinois, where Allen later earned degrees in mechanical engineering and naval science.

He went on duty as an officer in the Naval Civil Engineer Corps and was stationed at Port Hueneme, CA, Naval Operating Base at Adak, AK.

Allen's lifetime friend and classmate, John Rasmussen, was also in the same program; at one time they met unexpectedly on a two-lane highway outside Washington DC because a herd of cows had stopped traffic in both directions.

During his tour of duty in Adak, Alaska, Allen took a leave of absence to climb the Great Sitkin Volcano with a team of anthropologists from the University of Michigan. The team were transported to the uninhabited Great Sitkin Island where they ascended the volcano with backpacks to the crater at an elevation of 5700 feet.

Following his Navy career, Allen attended UW Madison, where he earned a BBA. While there, he met his future wife, E. Maxine Bradbury, while sailing during the summer session. The couple was united in marriage on March 29, 1953 in Plymouth, WI, where Maxine was the Vocal Music Director at Plymouth High School. After their honeymoon, they moved to Ottawa, OH, then to Hartford, WI and Butler, WI before finally moving to Port Washington, WI.

Allen and Maxine were proud members of the UW Madison Alumni Club. They also loved to visit the Gulf coast of Florida for many vacations. Maxine preceded Allen in death shortly after they moved to Port Washington in 2018.

Mr. Cooper's career included engineering positions at Sylvania's Television Picture Tube Plant, Chevrolet, West Bend Company, Harley Davidson, Rexnord and finally as Chief Engineer at the Ball and Jewell Division of Sterling, Inc., in Milwaukee. He received two patents on outboard motor design and applied for a patent on a beat-frequency centrifugal rock crusher.

Allen loved to watch the Badgers, Packers, Brewers and Bucks with his family and friends.

Survivors include his children Keith (Karen) Cooper of Des Moines, IA and Connie (Brian) Smokowicz of Port Washington, WI step-granddaughters Christa (Jason) Callen and Amy Wike-Moore, and step great-grandchildren Dalton, JT, and Raelynne Callen. He is further survived by sister-in-law Nancy Cooper of Whitewater, special friend Donna Blohowiak, other family and friends. Allen is preceded in death by his parents Maurice and Iva (nee Evans) Cooper, beloved wife of 65 years Maxine, and sisters Rose Marie (the late Doug) Burdick and Lucy (the late Louis) Bartz. Allen's brother Rollie Cooper passed away 5 days after Allen did. Allen was also preceded in death by his brother- and sister-in-law Ed and Joy Bradbury.

A Memorial Service will be held at Milton United Methodist Church (241 Northside Drive, Milton, WI 53563) on Sunday, December 18th at 2PM. The family will receive visitors at the church on Sunday from 1PM until services at 2PM. Military Honors will follow the service.

Allen was a caring, loving father and husband who was loved greatly by his family and many friends who knew him. He will be be missed.

Eernisse Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements; online condolences may be left at www.eernissefuneralhome.com .