April Renee Magnus, 34, Ligonier, passed away after a lengthy hospital stay surrounded by her loving family on Aug. 13, 2017 at the Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. She was born on June 5, 1983 the daughter of Gary L. Cooley and Donna Jo (Branam) Becker in Goshen. On June 18, 2005 she married Jonathan A. Magnus in Rome City.

April graduated from West Noble High School in 2003. She loved to babysit and did so for many years. April was an avid baker, and especially enjoyed baking cupcakes and several types of cookies. She and her husband, Jonathan attended the Ligonier Church of Christ and was a member of the Legion Auxiliary of Ligonier. Country music was what she liked listening to. There wasn’t a person she met, that she didn’t become friends with. A life so beautiful and gone too soon, April was loved by many and will be missed by everyone.

Survivors include her husband, Jonathan Magnus of Ligonier; parents, Gary L. Cooley and Donna Becker, of Ligonier; two brothers, Timothy Branam, of Alexandria, Va.; Gary (Julianne) W. Cooley, of Cromwell; nephews, Zachary Branam of Boise, Idaho; Kendrick Branam, of Alexandria, Va.; nieces, Eva Branam, of Alexandria, Va.; Rebecca Cooley of Cromwell; along with many aunts and uncles.

She is preceded in death by her step-father, Richard W. Becker Jr., paternal grandparents, Armando “Chuck” and Judy Cooley, and maternal grandmother, Maude Branam.

A funeral service in April’s honor will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 19 at Yeager Funeral Home – 1589 Lincolnway South; Ligonier, IN 46767. A private committal service will take place at the Legacy Cremation and Remembrance Center in Ligonier, IN.

Family and friends will be received at Yeager Funeral Home from 2 p.m.-5 p.m. and 6 p.m.-8 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 18 as well as from 10–11 a.m. on Saturday prior to the beginning of the service. At the family’s request, please wear the color purple during the visitation and to the funeral service.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be directed to the family to help with medical and funeral expenses for April through the gofundme.com/49hpa8g or to the West Noble American Legion – 100 S. Main St. Ligonier, IN 46767 or to the Lupus Foundation of Fort Wayne.