Robert Cooper, 86, of Sterling, died Friday evening at the Valley View Villa Care Center in Ft. Morgan. He was born March 20, 1925 in Lawrence, KS to William and Aileen Cooper. His family moved to Sterling where he grew up and graduated from high school. He served in the U.S. Army as an aircraft mechanic working on B17s with the 812th Bombardment Squadron in Normandy and Northern France. Robert married Doris Modena on March 20, 1970 in Denver where he was working as a clerk for Safeway. They moved to Ft. Morgan in 1987 where he worked for Morgan County for 11 years. After retiring they moved back to Sterling. He enjoyed raising miniature horses and taking care of the animals on their farm near Ft. Morgan. He also enjoyed his coffee shop friends and fellowship early in the mornings. His greatest enjoyment was spending time with his family and grandchildren. He was a member of the V.F.W. and the First Christian Church in Sterling. He is survived by his wife, Doris, of Sterling; six children, Linda Garcia and Barbara Lorenzo, both of Sterling, George Neal of Albuquerque, NM, Kathy De La Riva of Ft. Morgan, Lawrence Neal of Hillrose, and William Cooper of Anaheim, CA; one sister, Shirley Fink, of Denver; 17 grandchildren and several great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Sharon Neal; one brother, Sergeant Major Kenneth Cooper, and his parents. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday at 1:30 pm at the Heer & Dahl Mortuary Chapel in Ft. Morgan. Inurnment will follow in Memory Gardens with Military Honors conducted by the V.F.W. Post #2551.