Michael Cooley

Michael Cooley

 

 

Michael Ray Cooley, 64, Denver, Colorado, formerly of Elgin, Iowa passed away  Friday, January 29, 2016 at the Denver Hospice House, Denver, CO. 

          Mike was born on April 19,1951 to Alta (Seago) Cooley and Billy Cooley at Iowa City, Iowa. From that union, another son, David was born. Alta then married Glen Odegard, and to this union, Glenda  and Robert were born.

          Mike graduated from Valley High School in 1969.  After high school, Mike enlisted in the Navy for 4 years. While in the Navy, he got to travel the world, and went to Finland, Scotland, France and a trip to South America. He also got to go through the Panama Canal. He went to Newport, RI, and made numerous trips to the Caribbean. Mike was honorably discharged.

          Mike came back home after the Navy and held numerous jobs. He married Dorene Saboe in 1973, and had one son, Jamie. They later divorced.

          It was then that he discovered Truck driving. He moved to Omaha to help out with a road project. There he met his wife of 37 years, Judith Ann Kruse.  Mike and Judy had one son, Chad Michael Cooley.

          His "job" of truck driving became his life's work for over 40 years.  Mike travelled 49 of the 50 states, plus most of the Canadian province. A few of the companies he worked for were: Cessford Construction, Transcon, P.I.E. and NW.  After NW closed, he decided to buy his own truck.  He worked for several freight companies until finally getting the trucking job he had always wanted. He would pull new and used empty trailers for Trailer Transit, to the dealers, or straight to the customers. Mike said his greatest accomplishments while driving was to haul the Rolling Stones while they were touring the US and Canada. He got to see them in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Glendale, AZ.  He and a friend made a trip all the way on the Al-Can Highway. A trip that was 4500 miles long. He estimated he drove between 6-7 million miles in his trucking career.

          Anyone who knew Mike, knew he had made as many friends as the miles he drove. He would always think of family or friends, if he was near their area, he would give them a call and be sure to stop in. Mike, being the "eternal teenager" always had a love of cars, trucks or anything that would run. He and Judy spent much time and effort to restore a 1948 Ford. He loved watching shows on TV that would restore old cars and trucks. He loved going to NASCAR races, and to hockey games, especially to watch the Colorado Avalanche. 

          Those who are left to cherish his life and memories are his wife, Judy; son, Chad; his faithful trucking companion, Kruzer; sister, Glenda (Kelly ) Koehn; brother, Robert Odegard; sister-in-laws, Margo Cooley; Kay Olesen; Debby (Al) Larson; Marlena Welter; Aunt, Joanne Odegard; Uncles, Hubert (Luveryl) Seago; Ervin Nyberg; Ron Rohrig. Plus many other nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends.

          He was preceded in death by his mother, Alta; step-father, Glen Odegard; brother, David Cooley; His mother-in-law and father-in-law, Marceline and Adolph Kruse. Also, many aunts, uncles, cousins, family and friends.

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