John P. "Jack" Cooney

John P. "Jack" Cooney

John P. "Jack" Cooney, age 85, of Erie, died Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at Sarah A. Reed Retirement Center.

He was born May 30, 1925 in Erie, a son of the late Charles A. and Rose E. Straub Cooney. He attended Sacred Heart Grade School and graduated from Academy High School, Class of 1943 and attended Gannon College. He enlisted in the Marine Corps, attended Bucknell University and graduated from Yale University. While in the Marine Reserves he worked for BF Goodrich in Akron, OH. He was called back to active duty during the Korean War, serving as a 1st Lieutenant and was a Purple Heart and Bronze Star recipient. After the war he returned to Akron and then moved to Erie in the early 50's, working for Lord Mfg. He married Midge Brugger in 1955. While at Lord, he attended Harvard Business School from 1963 to 1964. Jack joined his brother Ralph at R.A. Cooney Material Handling in 1980 and worked there until his retirement at age 80.

He was a member of Saint Jude the Apostle Church and, later, Our Lady of Peace Roman Catholic Church, where he served as an usher, commentator, and on the parish council and numerous committees. He was the founder and first president of Woodhaven Association, served on the Millcreek Township Planning Commission, Millcreek Sewer Authority and the Regional Government Opportunities Task Force. He was a member of East Erie Turners, Erie Maennerchor and Danish Clubs and the Choristers of the Danish Club/Manennerchor. He was an avid golfer.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 41 years, Marjorie "Midge" Brugger Cooney; four brothers, Kenneth, Charles, Robert and Thomas Cooney and one sister, Ruth Merritt.

He is survived by one daughter, Patricia Cooney Miller and husband Brian Miller of Erie; three sons, Kevin Cooney and wife Dorothy of Erie, John Cooney and wife Kathy of Allentown, PA and Michael Cooney, MD., and wife Julia of Erie; two brothers, G. James Cooney and Ralph Cooney both of Erie; two sisters, Mary Dunlavey of Bayonet Pt., FL and Natalie Uhlman of Rochester, NY and ten grandchildren, Catie and Sarah Norcott, Daniel, Katherine, Joshua, Clarissa, Zachary, Anna, Alison and Emily Cooney. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

Friends are invited to call at the John R. Orlando Funeral Home, Inc., 2122 Raspberry Street, on Thursday evening from 7 to 9 pm and Friday from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 pm and may attend a Funeral Mass on Saturday at Our Lady of Peace RC Church, 2401 West 38th Street, at 10 am. Burial will be in Trinity Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Our Lady of Peace School Endowment Fund, 2401 West 38th Street, Erie, PA 16506 or to the Second Harvest Food Bank, 1507 Grimm Drive, Erie, PA 16501