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..!