Obit: Cook, Gene Francis (1931 - 2007)

Contact: Crystal Wendt
Email: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Cook, Turner, Pratt, Torrjer, Boardsen, Book, Marvin, Alan

----Sources: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, Wood County, Wis.) Saturday, September 15, 2007

Cook, Gene Francis (19 April 1931 - 8 Sept. 2007)

Gene F. Cook, 76, of Marshfield, died Saturday, Sept. 8, 2007, in Palliative Care at Saint Joseph's Hospital.

A memorial service will be held at noon Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007, at Faith Lutheran Church with the Rev. Trisha Turner officiating.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until service time Sept. 22 at the church.

Gene's cremains will rest at the Loyal Cemetery in Loyal.

Cuddie Funeral Home of Loyal is assisting the family with the arrangements.

Gene Francis Cook was born April 19, 1931, in Hammond to Harold and Beth (Pratt) Cook. He was raised and educated in Loyal, graduating from Loyal High School in 1949. Gene was drafted into the U.S. Army and served his country from 1951 through 1953, devoting 18 months of duty to service in Korea. He was united in marriage to Janet Rottjer in Loyal at the United Methodist Church on Oct. 10, 1953. Gene attended the UW-Whitewater, graduating with a bachelor's degree in business education in 1959. He taught high school in Edgerton until moving to Waukesha in 1960. Gene was employed at Waukesha County Technical College and also attended the UW-Madison where he earned his master's degree in 1969. He remained at Waukesha County Technical College for 31 years, until retirement as dean of the Business Division in 1991.

Gene spent his retirement at Lake Camelot in the town of Rome and moved in 2004 to Marshfield to be closer to family.

He was very active in several state professional organizations, promoting and supporting vocational, technical and adult education. He volunteered as a tutor in the Basic Adult Education program at Mid-State Technical College in Wisconsin Rapids and in the Reading Buddy program at Pineland Elementary school in Friendship. Gene also contributed many volunteer hours to his church, Woodland Lutheran Church, and served on the Water Utility Board in the town of Rome. He became an accomplished watercolor artist, enjoyed stained glass creations and loved to travel and spend time at their home at Lake Camelot waterskiing, fishing and entertaining friends and family.

Gene will be sadly missed by his wife, Janet of Marshfield; two children, Joel (Elizabeth) of Ripon, Jon (partner Eric Boardsen) of Columbus, Ohio; two grandchildren, Lauren and Hunter; his mother, Beth Book-Marvin of Loyal; four brothers, Roy (Darlene) Cook of Marshfield, Larry (Alice) Cook of Loyal, Lee (Carol) Cook of Lyndon Station, and Dennis (Ruth) Cook of Loyal; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his father; stepfather, Harry Marvin; and one sister, Fern Alan.

Gene's family truly appreciates the love, care and concern of the doctors and staff of the eighth floor Cancer Care, Palliative Care and Chemotherapy at Saint Joseph's Hospital and Marshfield Clinic.

In lieu of flowers, Gene's family requests that memorials be given to Waukesha County Technical College for a scholarship fund that will be set up at a later date.