Koop, Mae Nora Foster (1940-2020)

KOOP, FOSTER, HORNER, TOOMSEN

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 5/23/2021 at 19:34:21

Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, Iowa
April 6, 2020 and June 8, 2020

Mae Nora (Foster) Koop, 79, passed away on March 17, 2020, in Springfield, Missouri, with her family at her side. She loved Jesus and looked forward to being in Heaven. Mae’s life will be celebrated at the Community Church, near Kamrar, Iowa. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time, due to the State of Iowa’s recent prohibition of public gatherings of groups greater than 10 people. Please check the Boman Funeral Home website (www.bomanfh.com) or let the family know you would like to be notified when public service details are finalized (email JohnMaeKoop@gmail.com or text/leave a message at 417-877-1990). [Mae’s life will be celebrated at 11:00 AM On Saturday, June 13, 2020, at the Community Church, near Kamrar, Iowa with lunch following and a Graveside Service at 12:30 PM. The visitation will be held from 5-7 PM on Friday June 12, 2020, at the Community Church. The family has chosen Boman Funeral Home (www.bomanfh.com) to care for their needs.]

Mae was born to the late Leon and Elsie Foster on July 18, 1940, in Dows, Iowa. She was active in the Dows United Methodist Church, and graduated from Dows High School in 1958. While celebrating her acceptance to nursing school, she met the love of her life, John Iver Koop, at the Iowa Falls skating rink. John always said he knew she was “the one” after the first loop around the rink.

Mae graduated as an RN from Iowa Methodist School of Nursing in 1961. She and John married on August 12, 1961, in Dows, and moved to a farm south of Kamrar, Iowa. The same year, Mae became a nurse at the Hamilton County Hospital in Webster City, Iowa, where she worked for more than 40 years as a nurse, medical records supervisor, and quality assurance coordinator. In 1997, she completed her bachelor’s degree in health care administration from St. Joseph’s College in Maine.

John and Mae were blessed with two daughters, Julie and Jana. After their daughters graduated from high school, John and Mae became foster parents and opened their home to ten teens: Tim, David, Travis, Richard, Craig, Jeremy, Duane, Toni, Becca, and Jeannie.

Mae was a member of the Community Church of Kamrar. She and John were youth sponsors for many years, and cherished the memories of taking the youth group to camp in Colorado each summer. She taught Sunday School and VBS. She was known for creating themed programs for various church groups and related ministries. She was a 4-H leader and also enjoyed sewing, reading, and coloring.

Mae is survived by her daughters Julie (Ron) Horner of Springfield, Missouri, and Jana Koop of Irving, Texas; her grandchildren Rachel and John Horner; her sister Sandra Toomsen of Waterloo, Iowa; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family. She is preceded in death by her loving husband, John Iver, who her girls are sure was waiting for her at Heaven’s gate, as well as her parents, an infant brother James, and a grandson, Nehemiah Horner.

For memorials, the family has selected two options. YSS of Hamilton County serves young adults who are aging out of foster care. Donations are accepted at www.yss.org. Please select YSS of Hamilton County, tribute in memory of Mae Koop, and specify Aftercare Program. Donations for youth group mission trips can be sent to Community Church, 2351 280th Street, Kamrar, IA 50132. Cards can be sent to the family of Mae Koop, PO Box 19, Kamrar, IA 50132.