Obituary of Elaine Elizabeth Koop

February 6, 1932 – Swift Current, Saskatchewan

September 2, 2023 - Calgary, Alberta

Elaine Elizabeth Koop (nee Cashman) passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 2, 2023, at the age of 91 years old. She was born February 6, 1932, in Swift Current, SK, to Athol and Margaret Cashman, as the second child and only daughter. Her brother, Ken Cashman, was ten years older and joined the Armed Forces when Elaine was just seven years old. Despite their age difference and his absence during her growing years, she always loved and revered her brother.

Her family moved to Edmonton, AB, and Elaine met John Koop at a church function. They married on August 15, 1953, and eventually moved to Calgary. Elaine spent her career in administrative positions working in the oil industry, for Fina then at a plant west of Cochrane that became Petro Canada.

While in Calgary, John and Elaine had two children: Karen, and Douglas. They eventually purchased an acreage west of Cochrane and built a Cedar Log home by themselves (with some help from friends, nieces, and nephews). They raised chickens and cattle for food, owned horses for pleasure riding, a milk cow named Blondie, and plenty of barn cats.  John and Elaine were truly “hobby farmers”.  They loved having people over to their home, where there was always a pot of coffee, a pie in the freezer that could be heated, or the “Jello salad thing”. 

They were very active in church communities and were founding members of the Cochrane Alliance Church.  After their children grew and left their home, they returned to Calgary. Elaine helped John with his accounting business, but mostly just kept him company as he delivered tax returns. These outings would always provide the opportunity to have a Mama burger, a Big Mac, or even sometimes her favorite, a hot dog. 

Her beloved John passed away suddenly on December 30, 2019, and Elaine lived the rest of her life in a nursing home, coping with dementia. During her later years and as her dementia advanced, she rediscovered her childhood, she traveled to far away places in her mind, and saw many people that visited her although had long before left us.  She loved to laugh and often laughed until she cried, even when dementia declined her cognitive abilities, she remained good natured and funny.   

Elaine was pre-deceased by her loving husband John and is survived by their daughter Karen Tucker and son-in-law Robert of Fountain Hills, AZ; son Doug and daughter-in-law Kathy of Calgary, AB; grandchildren, Sarah Koop, and husband Yegor Korchemagin, and Joshua Koop of Calgary, AB, Haley Tucker and husband Miles Gillis of Seattle, WA and Carson Tucker and great-grandson Cayden of Phoenix, AZ. She also leaves behind many nieces and nephews and their families that loved and were loved by Aunt Elaine.

A private family memorial service will be held at a time and date that is still to be determined.  Please check the link below for updates on service arrangements.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Elaine’s family here. 

In living memory of Elaine Koop, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.