Mart H. Cooley

Mart H. Cooley, 84, of Fox Park, Wyoming and Fort Collins, Colorado died suddenly August 1, 2017. A member of the Fort Collins community since 1995, he was active in the Kiwanis Club of Poudre Golden K; Meals on Wheels; and as a VITA volunteer helping people with their tax forms. Mart was born September 26, 1932 in Alton, Kansas where he grew up on a wheat and cattle farm. He graduated from Alton High School in 1950. An Army veteran of the Korean Conflict, he rose in rank to Tech Sergeant in seventeen months, earned the Korean Service Medal with two stars, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal before being honorably discharged in 1954. Mart attended Kansas State University, graduating in 1958 with a degree in Grain Science and Milling Industry. He left K-State with much more than a degree, he also found his future wife, Rhonda (Johnson) there and they were married in 1958. Mart worked at Seaboard Corporation in Merriam, Kansas for thirty-eight years as a Design and Project Engineer. His legacy can be seen in major milling operations in eleven states, Africa, and in South America. He was an active member of the Association of Operative Millers serving as Representative for Regional District 2. He and Rhonda raised three children in Shawnee Mission: daughters, Renee (Hill) and Monet (Matthews) and son, Matt. Mart and Rhonda moved to Fort Collins in 1995, having retired there to enjoy the mountains and abundant hiking, camping, fishing and hunting. He loved to sail as well. He is survived by Rhonda, his three children, grandson, Brendan Matthews; great-grandson, Connor B. Matthews; and his two sisters, Cloris Blank and Sybil Hale. He was preceded in death by his father, Rollin; his mother, Beula (Boultinghouse); brothers, Noel, Roy, Lee, and Derold; sister, Ruth (Macha); and grandson, Connor M. Matthews. A Celebration of Mart’s life with Military Honors by the Fort Collins All Veterans Honor Guard and the US Army Honor Guard will take place Wednesday, August 9, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. at the Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 W. Olive Street, Fort Collins, CO, 80524.

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Mart H. Cooley

September 26, 1932 - August 1, 2017