Obituary of Robert Joseph Cook

Robert Joseph Cook was born November 27, 1925 and passed away Thursday, April 6th, 2006 surrounded by the loving touch of his sons Kevin, Michael, and Stephen, his daughter Kristi, and his daughter-in-law Wendi. He joins his beloved wife Roberta in God’s Kingdom, along with many friends and family who have gone before him. He is lovingly remembered by his children and grandchildren: Kevin, Kim, Katherine and Meghan Cook of South Burlington, Vermont; Michael Cook of San Mateo, California; Stephen, Wendi and Lauren Cook of Tacoma; Kristi, Brian, Hannah and Ashleigh Perry of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin; and his siblings, brother Jack and his wife Mary of Tinley Park, Illinois; brother Joseph of Toms River, New Jersey; and sister Marie Hanigan of Oak Lawn, Illinois. Bob was born in Chicago and raised among his fellow proud South Side Irish. He was elected, impeached, and then re-elected as his 8th grade class president at Saint Margaret of Scotland School. (He maintained a lifelong friendship with the nun who impeached him.) After two years at Quigley Seminary, he transferred to Leo High School, where he was elected president by the Class of 1943. Like many of his classmates, Bob immediately joined the military upon graduation. He was proud to have served in the Army Air Corps as a B-24 Liberator top turret gunner during World War II, and was awarded both the Air Medal and a Purple Heart for his service. Upon returning home, Bob graduated from Chicago’s Loyola University. He enjoyed a varied career, from his great early success in fire equipment sales, to his final 33 years as a tax preparer and accountant. He brought a quick wit and an infectious smile to all of his endeavors, and his humor and charm endeared him to all those who met him even briefly. After his marriage to Joan Dixon in 1959, he moved from Chicago to the San Francisco area, where he lived most of the rest of his life. Though the marriage ended in 1973, Bob remained a devoted and loving father to their four children. He married Roberta D. Reed in 1981; he and Bobbie spent some of the happiest years of his life before her death from cancer in 1990. In late November 2005, Bob celebrated his 80th birthday by returning home to Chicago, where he was feted by family and old friends, including six of his grammar school classmates. It was truly one of the best days of his life. Just three weeks later, he was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer, an aggressive disease with little hope for cure. Even in the face of this illness, Bob never lost his humor or wavered in his strong faith in God. Although he ultimately lost his battle with cancer, he was definitely a winner at life. We encourage you to sign this guest book and, in memory of one of the all-time greatest story tellers, share your stories about Bob with us and with each other. A Psalm for the Dying Relatives and friends, I am about to leave; my last breath does not say “goodbye,” for my love for you is truly timeless, beyond the touch of boney death. I leave myself not to the undertaker, for decoration in his house of the dead, but to your memory, with love. I leave my thoughts, my laughter, my dreams to you whom I have treasured beyond gold and precious gems. I give you what no thief can steal, the memories of our times together; the tender love-filled moments, the successes we have shared, the hard times that brought us closer together and the roads we have walked side by side. I also leave you a solemn promise that after I am home in the bosom of God, I will still be present, whenever and wherever you call on me. My energy will be drawn to you by the magnet of our love. Whenever you are in need, call me; I will come to you, with my arms full of wisdom and light To open up your blocked paths, to untangle your knots and to be your avenue to God. And all I take with me as I leave is your love and the millions of memories of all that we have shared. So I truly enter my new life as a millionaire. Fear not nor grieve at my departure, you whom I have loved so much, for my roots and yours are forever intertwined. Arrangements by Edwards Memorial Center 253-566-1008