Peggy Cooper

Mary Margaret “Peggy” Cooper passed away on Thursday, December 28, 2023 at the age of 82. She was born to parents Jim and Lois Hedger and was the older sister to John and Carrie. 

Peggy was inspired by storytelling throughout her life. She had two grandfathers who surrounded her with stories from the Celtic and Cherokee traditions. While in middle school, she had the joy of experiencing Canadian history and geography, being taught through storytelling in a one-room school house south of Toronto. 

As a dancer, she told stories through movement. She studied in Chicago in the early 1970s, taught lessons and performed well into her later years of life. 

As a singer, she told stories through song and performed nationwide with a variety of groups, most recently Madison Chamber Choir. 

As an educator, she explored storytelling in its many forms including puppetry, poetry and opera. Being involved in Waldorf education since 1975, she was always amazed at the transformative power of a simple story. Even as a retired teacher, Peggy remained involved in stories through toymaking where she created puppets for the Waldorf Kindergarten and biographical work. 

As a mother, she took on one of the most honored roles of her life. She has four sons, Steve, Tim, Pete, and Chris Gebhard with her first husband, Ralph Gebhard. Her sons will continue to learn from her stories, lessons, songs and beautiful imagination as will her seven grandchildren. She was married to Earl Cooper in California in 1989 and they lived most of their 35 years of marriage in Madison, Wisconsin. 

Memorial services are currently pending for May/June 2024.

Cress Funeral Home Sun Prairie

608-837-9054