SUPERIOR

Porter R. Cockerham, Jr., 71, of Foxboro, Wis., died Thursday, November 5, 2009, at St. Mary's Medical Center Hospice, Duluth.

He was born January 17, 1938 in Superior, son of Hannah (Lund) and Porter Cockerham, Sr.

On July 2, 1968, at Concordia Lutheran Church, Superior, Porter Cockerham, Jr. and Karen Conklin were united in marriage.

Porter's work history included dairy farming, R.E.A. and Koppers Industries Inc. He retired as a mill operator from Koppers after 39 years of service.

He loved to fish, sit in the garage and listen to the Minnesota Twins, watch the Green Bay Packers on TV and make road trips to Dairyland.
However, his greatest love was spending time with his grandchildren and his dog.

Preceding him in death were his parents; brother, Harlan Cockerham; and sisters, Regna DeJung and Edna Schultz.

Survivors include his wife of 41 years, Karen; daughter, Keri (Terry) Ayers, Foxboro; sons, William "Bill" (Tara Haas) Cockerham, Superior, and Porter "Peewee" (Sky) Cockerham III, Foxboro; 4 grandchildren, Tim (Charity and Gavynn) Ayers, Brian Ayers, Hannah Cockerham and Taylor Cockerham; sisters, Dolores (Andrew) Pietz, Virginia, Minn., and Phyllis (Harold) Aspen, Dairyland, Wis.; brother, Maynard Cockerham, Braham, Minn.; brothers-in-law; sisters-in-law; several nieces and nephews; and his beloved dog, Max.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, November 9, 2009, at Downs Funeral Home, 1617 N. 19th Street, Superior, and will resume at 10 until the 11 a.m. service Tuesday, at the funeral home. Reverend Gary Garnatz, pastor of Bethel Lutheran Church, will officiate.

Following the service, interment will take place at the River Hill Cemetery, Dairyland, Wis., followed by a luncheon to be served at the Summit Town Hall.

Active pallbearers will be Bernie Conklin, Andy Conklin, Norman "Junior" Anderson, Nathan Aspen, Kim Paulson and Mike Grenier.
Honorary pallbearers will be Andrew Pietz, Harold Aspen, and Porter's grandchildren.