Frances Cooper Roskam

Frances Cooper Roskam, 96, died May 15, 2012. Frances was born September 28, 1915, in a farmhouse her parents, John Joel Cooper and Anna Hollis Cooper, built between Overbrook and Carbondale in northeast Kansas. Her parents, her sister, Cecelia Tannehill, and her brother, Chester Cooper, predeceased her. She was valedictorian of a class of 25 that graduated from Overbrook High School in 1933. She received a BA degree from Washburn University in Topeka in 1937 and recently was thrilled to receive a 75-year membership pin from Alpha Phi sorority. At Washburn, she met her future husband, Del Roskam, a Wichita native. They married in 1939 and lived in Wichita where she was legal secretary to the county attorney until the birth of their first son in 1945. They moved to Larksfield Place retirement community in summer, 2000, and Del died that fall. Frances felt blessed to live among the friendly and supportive residents and staff at Larksfield Place. Frances and Del were able to prosper along with their country and he gained responsibilities at Cessna Aircraft Company, retiring as president in 1975. She participated in many Wichita organizations, from being a Cub Scout den mother to volunteering in the library at Larksfield Place. She was a volunteer at the Wesley Medical Center information desk for 30 years after her sons were grown and was a member of the Womens Board of Wesley. Seeing no reason things should not be kept organized, she often served as secretary or treasurer of organizations. Her primary focus was her family and she assembled and distributed extensive genealogies before computers were available to assist. She enjoyed occasionally traveling with Del and being the mother to their two sons, Alan (Nancy) and David (Rosemary), and later being a grandmother and great grandmother. She is survived by her sons; grandchildren Joey Roskam, Austen Roskam (Colleen), and Emily Roskam; great grandsons Nicholas Roskam and Jonathan Roskam; brother-in-law Oliver Roskam; nieces Patty Colson, Carol Goodyear, Janice Johnson and Judy Roskam and nephews John Cooper, Donald Roskam, Robert Roskam, Bruce Tannehill, John Tannehill and Robert Tannehill. Memorial services will be held at Larksfield Place retirement community Wednesday, 10:30 AM June 13, 2012 . Memorials donations can be made to: Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice; 313 S. Market, Wichita, KS 67202; Larksfield Place, 7373 E. 29th St. N., Wichita, KS 67226; Plymouth Congregational Church, 202 N. Clifton, Wichita, KS 67208. Downing Lahey Mortuary East.