Stephen Collin Cooper
It is with both sadness and the memory of Steve’s twinkling eyes that we mourn the loss of a man who loved life.
Steve grew up in Alberta and graduated from NAIT Forest Technology in 1971. He went on to work for Parks Canada at Pacific Rim, Wood Buffalo and Nahanni National Parks. He married in 1978 in Fort Smith, NWT and the couple worked in the Mackenzie, Keewatin and Inuvik regions of the Northwest Territories until their move to the Yukon in 1983.
At that point Steve opened Tutshi Tanning Fur and Leather in Whitehorse. He had a lifelong passion for working with leather since he was a teenager, experimenting then with deer hides in Alberta. Over the years he honed his craft learning from elders in the communities, other tanners in the business and above all from his own hard work and perseverance.
Steve became an experienced teacher, sharing his knowledge of tanning through workshops in NWT, Yukon and Alaskan communities and teaching in his shop on Macdonald Road. Many school groups came to the tannery to learn about different kinds of animals and furs, and children loved his enthusiastic stories.
Over the years Steve valued his relationships with hunters, trappers, First Nation and anyone in search of home tanned or commercial tanned fur and leather. His smoked home tanned leather became a popular item even sought, on occasion by museums. His business provided employment to dozens of young enthusiasts and contributed to a number of leather sewing workshops locally as well as outside of the Yukon.
Steve enjoyed working with his hands and was a skilled log builder even before coming to Whitehorse, where he built two log homes. He had such appreciation and knowledge of wood that he could easily detect what type of wood things were made of.
He had a passion for hand-crafted canoes and went through great lengths to find these rare gems. His love of nature took him exploring the vast open spaces and watersheds of Alberta Rocky Mountains, NWT and the Yukon.
Steve was a conservationist at heart and his passion for recycling saved many “good things still” from going to waste. He was generous, enjoyed helping at the drop of a hat and raising his children on their rural property beside the Yukon River.
He was blessed with good health and an amazing sharp memory that could recite an engaging repertoire of facts and stories. Steve cultivated many long-lasting friendships and shared his positive attitude and happy disposition with everyone. He will be missed..!
His family and numerous friends are grateful to the staff at Wind River Hospice for their warm welcome and exceptional care during his final days.
Photo credit: Maggie Leary
An open house to remember and celebrate Steve will be held:
Friday February 28 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm
Location: Heritage North Funeral Home located at 1101 Centennial Street in Porter Creek.
Hosted by: The Cooper family and friends.
Bring along your stories..!
Sandra Henderson
A very exceptional human being who was always so positive in sharing his work and love for people.. my sincere condolences to his family. Rest in Peace dear Steve. You will be missed.
Nadine Pearson-Bouchard
Un homme fantastique, drôle, curieux, créatif, courageux et toujours heureux. Aujourd’hui, ayant un intérêt insoupçonné pour la trappe, la chasse et le tanning, j’aurais aimé apprendre de toi lorsque j’étais au Yukon !
Tu m’auras tout de même donné de belles valeurs le temps que nous nous sommes côtoyé. Je continuerai d’honorer ta mémoire en explorant la nature !
Bon voyage mon oncle.
Garcia Pearson
Cela te convien s à la perfection et je garde un souvenir absolument merveilleux de toutes ces aventures que nous avons vécues ensemble. Dommage que nous étions si éloigné car je suis certain que nous aurions partagé beaucoup plus d’histoire à faire trembler Louise de peur. J’espère que vous allez vous rencontrer dans l’au dela et que la langue ne causera plus de problème.
Amusé-vous bien en nou attendant.
Pearl Pearson
Steve, more than a brother in law!
A man who got my children and myself to discover so many beauties of the North. Fishing, hunting, spending winter nights in the teepee, hiking, picking special cones and dead tree to smoke hides, visiting small communities around Whitehorse, are only a few things amongst numerous other memorable and unforgettable moments we spent together.
There is no thank you big enough to pass the message.
It’s only a “See you someday , for another incredible advantage”.
With all my ❤️ heart.
Pearl
Tim
Sad to hear of Steve’s passing. He was always a cheery man with a positive attitude. Very likeable.
Claude Gosselin
”Que tous soient Un comme le Père et moi, nous sommes UN” (St-Jean) Steve avait ce don de l’unité, non par des discours, mais parce qu’il incarnait lui-même cette réalité: UN parce qu’unique! Il avait pleine conscience qu’il faisait humblement partie de l’UNIVERS. Avec gratitude, il reconnaissait qu’il prenait part au grand TOUT en communiant à tout ce qui l’entourait.”We are all ONE”, qu’il disait. À l’image de son métier, il savait reconnaître la vie sous la peau de toute c réature pour la faire transparaître et qu’elle demeure éternellement vivante. Lui-même avait le bison dans la peau, l’orignal dans la peau, le castor, le caribou dans la peau, car tous étaient ses frères. Tous donnaient sa vie pour lui, car ils savaient que Steve les traiteraient comme lui-même voudrait être traité. Il vivait de même avec ses frères et soeurs d’humanité. Il savait voir de ses yeux perçants de vérité jusque dans les profondeurs de l’âme pour y reconnaître la valeur unique de chaque personne dans leurs dons, leurs blessures et leurs histoires. Qu’il entre maintenant dans le Temple de nos coeurs et qu’il demeure en nous un guide et une inspiration d’UNITÉ pour que nous soyons UN comme Steve et le Père de l’Univers sont éternellemnt UN. Paix et réconfort à sa famille et à tous ses amis! Je prie en communion avec vous!
F.Claude Gosselin
“That all of them may be ONE, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us as we are ONE”? (John 17; 21)
Steve was a man of UNITY, not only by words, but trough his own well-being. “We are all ONE », he said. Consciously, he felt that he was ONE with the UNIVERSE. As a humble and unique part of this great ALL, he was in communion with all creatures. As a tanner, he had this great capacity to fell the life under the skin. Respectfully, he could give a second and an eternal life to the skin of all animals. He was one with bison, one with the beaver, one with the caribou, one with the moose as he was brother of all of them. He treated themselves as he would have liked to be threatened. He was ONE also with sisters and brothers of humankind. He could see deeply into the soul and recognize the truth and the beauty of everyone. May Steve continue to guide us and inspire us into the temple of our hearts and we will be ONE all together as Steve and God of universe are eternally ONE! Peace and comfort to Steve’s family and friends. My prayers and thoughts are with you!
Sue Lewis
Steve was my older brother. I feel sad about his loss but grateful for all the ways he enriched my life. He encouraged a great love of nature, and inspired my experiences when he was a warden up in Nahanni, Fort Smith, and Pacific Rim Park including West Coast Trail. With the family he taught us how to make birch bark baskets, mukluks, always keeping us busy creating useful items. He cared for nature and left the places better than before, picking up garbage wherever he went. Memories of Steve and his life will stay with me forever. He will be missed.
Chris Cooper
Steve was the second oldest of five offspring of Alan and Patricia Cooper. From oldest to youngest, these are: Carolyne, Janet, Sue, and Chris. Thankfulness was a theme he repeated as the end drew near. The care demonstrated by family, close friends and acquaintances, and medical support staff is greatly appreciated.