Obit: Cook, Richard Paul (1932 - 2015)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Cook, Plankey, Troffer, Metz, Nolechek, Statz, Osterman, Martin, Perlberg, Dalka, McLain

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., WI) 2/25/2015

Cook, Richard Paul ( 22 July 1932 - 11 February 2015)

Richard Paul Cook, age 82, of Rhinelander, passed away Tuesday, February 11, 2015, after and extended illness, at Rennes Health & Rehab Center in Rhinelander, with his wife, Barbara, at his side.

Richard was born on July 22, 1932, in Rhinelander, Wisconsin the son of Paul and Vina (Plankey) Cook. Richard was a 1950 graduate of Rhinelander High School. He married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Troffer, on December 1. 1951, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. The couple made their home in Rhinelander, where they raised their four children. After graduating, Richard began his career at the Rhinelander Paper Mill, where he was employed as the Head Beater Man until his retirement in 1992. Richard was a member of Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church, and was a past member of a dartball league and horseshoe league. He enjoyed shooting pool; but most of all, Richard enjoyed fishing with his family, especially going on their annual trips to Canada. Richard will be remembered for his love of family and all of the time spent with them on Lake Emma.

Richard will be dearly missed by his loving wife, Barbara; his daughter, Cynthia Ann Metz of Rhinelander; his sons: Steven Richard (Vicky) Cook of Moorpark, California, and Kenneth Allen (Shantel) Cook of Council Bluffs, Iowa; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Also surviving are his sisters: Delores Nolechek of Thorp, Wisconsin, Diane Statz of Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, Carol Osterman of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Judy Martin of Longmont, Colorado, Patricia (Dennis) Perlberg of Rhinelander, Wisconsin, Paula Cook of Broomfield, Colorado, and Stephanie (Thomas) Dalka of Rhinelander, Wisconsin. Richard is further survived by nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Daniel James Cook; and by three brothers-in-law;: William Nolechek, David Statz, and Skip Osterman.

The visitation for Richard was held on Monday evening, February 16, 2015, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Hildebrand Russ Funeral Home. There was a Parish Prayer Service Monday evening at 6:30 p.m. A second visitation was held on Tuesday morning February 17, 2015, at Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church, (St. Mary’s site) from 11:00 a.m. until the 12:00 p.m. (Noon) Mass of Christian Burial. Fr. Mike McLain officiated. Interment was at Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Cemetery.