Michael Ray Hooper

Michael Ray Hooper, 57, of Mark passed away on Saturday, November 11, 2023.

Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 17, 2023 at Dysart – Cofoid Funeral Chapel, Granville.

Service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 18, 2023 at Dysart – Cofoid Funeral Chapel, Granville.  Pastor Cameron Graper will officiate.  Burial will be in Granville Cemetery with Military Honors.

Mike was born on July 22, 1966 in Spring Valley to Galen and Dolly (Schell) Hooper. 

He graduated from Putnam County High School in 1984.  He graduated from De Vry Institute of Technology in 1986 with an electronics technician diploma.  Mike enlisted in the United States Army in February 1989 and was discharged in February 1994 as an electronic technician.  He was stationed in Germany when he was deployed to Operation Desert Storm War with 501st Military Intelligence Battalion 1st Armored Division.  After returning from the Middle East he was transferred to Fort Bragg, NC in late 1991 being with the 4th Physcological Operations Group, Special Operations Command. 

After exiting the military, he was a mailman for 23 years, delivering mail in Ottawa, IL.  He enjoyed his encounters with all the people on his route.  He loved his job and customers, not so much the management, where he retired from in 2017.

Mike was a life member of the Putnam County VFW Post 8324, the Granville American Legion Post 180, National Association of Letter Carriers and a member of the Princeton Moose Lodge.

His favorite hobby since age 15 was going to rock & roll concerts, attending over 100 shows, with his best show of all time being the Roger Waters of Pink Floyd concert at the Berlin Wall in Potsdam, Germany, where he was able to bring home a piece of the Berlin Wall. 

He also enjoyed hunting, fishing and just being with his friends and family.  Mike loved life and was always one of the first there when a friend needed a hand or ear.

In 2017 he began experiencing symptoms of Gulf War Illness, which has no treatment or cure; it is an exposure to nerve gas, which gave him chronic pain 24/7 in his entire body, which kept him from doing anything.  He had a difficult time now, needing to be the one to ask for help, instead of giving it.  His friend Ben Yarger and sister, Lisa were the two people “that got it” and helped him until he couldn’t take another day of the intense pain.  He ended his pain on Veteran’s Day, his proudest and favorite day of the year.

Survivors include his father, Galen Hooper of Harmon, IL; sister, Lisa Hooper of Standard; three nieces, Nicole (Daniel) Stroud of Malden, IL, Jennifer (Jared) Engel of Seatonville, IL and Tara Wright of Peru and one great nephew, Gideon Engel.

“God Bless America and God Bless our Veterans”.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Dolly; maternal and paternal grandparents; several aunts and uncles; His yellow lab, “Steeler Boy”.  He was definitely my son, best friend, hunting buddy, fishin buddy and constant companion from 2001-2014.  We are driving down a country road in the blue truck together right now.

Pallbearers will be Sean Dunn, Kevin Morris, Ben Yarger, Dave Jones, Earl Pavlick and Sam Abraham.  Honorary pallbearer will be Patrick Huck combat buddy and life long friend.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to his family.

Online condolences may be made to his family at www.dcfunerals.com

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