Wanda "Jean" (Cooper) Grand Pre passed away on July 30, 2025, in Salina, KS. She was born on February 28, 1933, in Eads, Colorado to Floyd Harley and Alepha May (Ramsey) Cooper.
She attended a few schools including Little River and Marquette. She graduated from Marquette High School in 1950. She went on to graduate as an RN from Marymount College.
She worked as an RN from 1954 to 2015 at St. Joseph Hospital, Galvin-Haughey Clinic, and Cloud County Health Center.
She married Charles Leonard Grand Pre at our lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church on October 2, 1954. To this union, four children were born: Diana, Kelly, Lee, and Leslie.
She was a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, The VFW Auxiliary, and the Moose Club Auxiliary. She was passionate about working with Neighbor to Neighbor. In Salina she enjoyed the Fidget Quilters and a wood carvers group. She loved her dogs, cooking, painting, gardening flowers, crocheting, and all types of sewing, including quilting and cross-stitch.
Jean was an avid reader, and she loved to travel – Ireland was a favorite! She was passionate about being a nurse, which was pretty evident since she continued working for over 60 years before she retired. She touched many families over this time span—she loved her patients! Caring for others was her specialty!!
She was so very proud of each of her children, and grandchildren. She loved visiting and hanging out with each and every one of them any time she could!! Her great-grandchildren warmed her heart in such a special way. Her life was complete when she was with her family.
Jean is survived by her children, Diana Grand Pre of Salina, KS, Kelly Kieffer (Paul) of Clyde, KS, Lee Grand Pre of Salina, KS, and Leslie Winkel (David) of Osborne, KS; grandchildren, Kale Kieffer (Janessa), Kole Kieffer (Kasie), Keely Meinecke (Philip), Haley Winkel, and Heath Winkel; great-grandchildren, Bronc Kieffer, Bryleigh Kieffer, Brinley Kieffer, Tragen Kieffer, Truitt Kieffer, Sistine Meinecke, Canon Meinecke ,Trinity Meinecke, Mercy Meinecke, and Rosary Meinecke; numerous nieces and nephews, and bonus children, Diane and Kenny Hartzell, and Mary Ann Garlow.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Floyd and Alepha Cooper, her husband, Charles Grand Pre, her siblings, Marilyn Rush and Bobby Gene Cooper, and a granddaughter, Stephanie Kieffer.
A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Monday, August 4, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, in Concordia, Kansas with Father Joseph Kieffer officiating. Visitation will be held at Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home on Sunday, August 3, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The Rosary will be prayed at 6:00 p.m. and family will greet friends after. Memorials may be made to Neighbor to Neighbor or The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in care of Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home, P.O. Box 606, Concordia, KS 66901. For online condolences please visit www.chaputbuoy.com.