COOKMAN, Harry Joseph 'Joe' 1926 - 2018

COOKMAN, WOLSKE, KOHOUTEK, PALS, LUEDEMAN, MEYERS, HEPPERLY, STALEY

Posted By: Pat Ludeke (email)
Date: 7/6/2018 at 01:21:54

Harry Joe Cookman September 28, 1926 - March 23, 2018
H.J. Joe Cookman, 91, of Mason City passed away Friday, March 23, 2018 at the IOOF Home surrounded by his family.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 28, 2018 at Epiphany Parish Holy Family Catholic Church, 714 N Adams, Mason City with Father Austin Wilker and Father Kenneth Gehling concelebrating. Burial will be in Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, with full Military Honors conducted. Honors will also be conducted by members of the Mason City Police Honor Guard.

Visitation will be one hour prior to the Mass at the church. Memorials may be directed in care of Joe's family to be donated in honor of Joe.

Harry Joseph “Joe” Cookman was born on September 28, 1926 to Victor and Alice (Wolske) Cookman in Mason City. Growing up in Mason City, Joe attended Mason City High School. On December 5, 1944 Joe was drafted into the United States Army, where he served his country honorably, seeing action in the Pacific Theatre. He spent time in Japan. He was honorably discharged on November 13, 1946.

When returning home from the service, Joe graduated from Mason City High School. He played semi-pro baseball for many years, being offered a contract by the New York Yankees to go pro. Joe married the love of his life, Lucille Kohoutek, on April 5, 1947 at the Holy Family Rectory.

On October 19, 1948 Joe began working for the Mason City Police Department. For many years he was a Patrolman until 1978 when he was named Captain. Joe retired from the police force with a medical disability in 1982. Following his retirement he worked as an arbitrator during the farm crisis in 1980. He worked in the 2nd Judicial District as a pretrial investigator for many years. He successfully ran for city councilman and was “Councilman At Large” for 4 years.

In 1999 Joe acquired a farm east of Osage. This became the love of his life, he and Lucille farmed until 2016. Joe was his grandchildren's biggest fan, following all their sports teams and activities. He was a Chicago Cubs and Iowa Hawkeye fan.

Left to cherish Joe's memory are his wife, Lucille; children, Joan (Dennis) Pals of Mason City, Dr. Joseph (Linda) Cookman of West Des Moines, and John (Sandy) Cookman of Osage; eight grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; siblings, Jack Cookman of Mason City, Betty Luedeman of Cedar Rapids, Mary Helen (Doug) Meyers of Clear Lake, Dorothy Hepperly of Mason City, and Ann Staley of Mason City; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Preceeding him in death are his parents, Alice (Wolske) and Victor; a grandson, JJ Pals; brothers-in-law, Gary Hepperly, Robert Staley, and John Calvin Kohoutek; sister-in-law Mary Young; parents-in-law Gladys and John Kohoutek.

Cerro Gordo Obituaries maintained by Lynn Diemer-Mathews.
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