John Charles Cooney

John Charles Cooney, 73, of LeCenter passed away at the Mankato Hospital on Saturday, September 21, 2019. Visitation will be on Saturday, September 28 from 8:30 to 10:30 with Mass of Christian Burial following at 10:30 a.m. all at the Church of the Nativity in Cleveland with Father Ray officiating. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery in Le Center. Military honors provided by the Le Center Area Honor Guard.

John was born on December 23, 1945, in St. Peter to John Joseph Cooney and Ann Margaret (Schoeb) Cooney. He was the 3rd of 4 children. He attended Cleveland School and graduated High School in 1963. John attended Mankato State University on a football scholarship and Nettleton Business College in Sioux Falls, SD. He served in the US Army for two years and was stationed in Germany. John was married in 1967 to Pam (Smith) Cooney and they had 3 children.

Since 1969, John farmed and was in partnership with his dad and brother, Jerry. They also raised JRC Registered Angus along with Uncle Robert Cooney who started the heard. John & Jerry sold Blaney & Northrup King seed corn and soybeans. Agronico, a soybean processing plant, came to fruition on Johns homestead in which he was part owner and very involved for several years. John lived his life on his family farm, in the same home he was raised in, on Silver / Decker Lake in LeSueur County. He was a 4th generation Irish Catholic farmer.

Johns sense of humor always brought on a smile and laugh. His greatest joy was time spent with friends and family. He loved fishing, playing cards, cribbage, Vikings football, arrow-head hunting, and wildlife hunting. John loved his peacocks, chickens, birds and all facets of nature. His family will miss the annual fall corn shock making and pumpkin carving with bonfire and hayride at his home.
John was a lifetime member of the VFW, Knights of Columbus, Livestock Feeders Association, Sons of the American Legion and Izaak Walton League/Sportsmans Club. Some of his favorite events were cooking for the Sportsmans Club and hosting the annual Cooney St. Patricks Day gathering and parade.

Survived by his 3 children, Michelle (Jerry) Conlon, Tim (Nancy) Cooney, Christine (Randy) Lantinen; 5 grandchildren, Margaret, Ryan & Sarah Conlon, Bishop & Miia Lantinen; special friend, Sherila Hamill; godchild, Kelly Cooney; siblings, Joan (Guy) Jenks, Jerry (Peggy) Cooney, Barbara Strubhar; aunt, Margie Cooney; uncle, Ray (Jan) Cooney.

John proceeded in death by his parents, John and Ann; and brother in law, Ray Strubhar.


Arrangements are with the Le Center Funeral Home. 507-357-6116. www.lecenterfuneralhome.com.