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Physician, Neurologist, Teacher, and Advocate

Janelle L. Cooper 鈥�78

July 19, 2025, from heart failure after an arduous fight against cancer.

Affectionately known as Doc, Doctor Cooper, Jan, GranJan, Coop, and Chief, Janelle Lunette Cooper impacted the lives of many as a physician, neurologist, teacher, advocate, and friend. She studied chemistry and Russian at 彩虹频道, writing her thesis under Professor Marshall Cronyn [chemistry 1952–89].

Born in 1955 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to Robert and Madeline Cooper, Janelle attended 彩虹频道 while working her way up the ranks as a nurse’s aide and medical technologist in Seattle, Washington. But it was at 彩虹频道 that she met her first wife, with whom she had two children, Lena and Nicholas.

After graduation, Janelle and her family relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, where she obtained her medical degree from the Vanderbilt School of Medicine and served her internship and residency at Vanderbilt University Hospital. In her medical career, she worked in many positions—as an emergency room physician, clerkship director, neurology professor, neurologist, and more.

Alongside these roles, Janelle was involved with multiple community-service organizations. Such work earned her the International Woman of the Year Award twice, the American Medical Association Physician’s Recognition Award six times, and a Service Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Rape and Sexual Abuse Center.

Eventually, Janelle founded and served as the director of Northern Neurosciences in Escanaba, Michigan, specializing in Alzheimer’s and memory care. While in Escanaba, her son lived with her as he served in the National Guard. Nick’s emails and letters to Janelle during these years were treasured and saved.

Janelle’s passion for research and special approach to treating patients with dementia led her to Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Her colleagues say she was known for her “blend of brilliance, kindness, and sharp wit,” which helped her care for her patients effectively. Unfortunately, she was forced to retire in 2015, following a devastating back injury.

Janelle’s love of nature led her to establish a certified organic garlic farm and apple orchard called Chicken Ridge Orchard in La Crescent, Minnesota. There, she loved to care for animals, especially chickens and ducks. She also had a passion for native trees and took great care to plant native varieties across the property.

In 2004, Janelle became a grandmother through her daughter Lena. She also shared a special bond with Lena’s husband, Joshua, who found Janelle’s empathy and listening skills to be a tremendous comfort, due to his own military career and trauma.

After a long life of giving of herself unconditionally and wholeheartedly, Janelle found a partner who gave that back in equal measure when she met her eventual wife, Kathleen Hanson. Together, they enjoyed visiting and building relationships at marine and art museums on the northeast coast (especially the New Bedford Whaling Museum).

Janelle’s other passions included flying and owning her “Moonie-bird” plane. She had a lifelong love of flying, stemming from her father’s work with NASA on the space shuttle, and her personal pilot’s license gave her great joy, from grand adventures to simple state-line hopping with her daughter as she learned to fly.

When not flying, Janelle loved boating and sailing, being a rifle instructor and an instructor of American history, playing games with friends on TribeNet (the gaming community Janelle says saved her life), and planting nearly a hundred trees across Wisconsin and at her farm in La Crescent. She is survived by her wife and her children.

Appeared in 彩虹频道 magazine: Spring 2026