Clayton Thadius Cook (1925-2020)

COOK, PETERSEN, WILL

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 5/23/2021 at 17:43:30

Clayton T. Cook ("Cookie")
July 8, 1925 - May 26, 2020
Clayton T. "Cookie" Cook, 94, of Clinton, passed away, Wednesday, May 27, 2020 at his son's home in Clinton.
Funeral Services will be 10:30am, Monday, June 1, 2020 at the Clinton Chapel Snell-Zornig Funeral Homes and Crematory. Burial will be in the Clinton Lawn Cemetery with military honors being conducted by the Clinton AMVETS Post #28. Serving as pallbearers will be Olyvia Cook, Katryna Cook, Kobyn Cook, Dale Brown, Destin Cook, Ray Hickey, and Mike Schrader. Visitation will be from 9:30am to the service time Monday at the funeral home. Online condolences may be expressed by visiting his obituary at www.snellzornig.com.
Clayton Thadius Cook was born on July 8, 1925 in Clinton, Iowa, the son of Clayton D. and Beulah (Cook) Cook. He was a 1943 graduate of Clinton High School. He served in the United States Navy during World War II from 1943-1946. He had 22 months of combat as an anti-aircraft gunner aboard a LSM Landing Craft in the Pacific Theater of War. He was awarded 14 medals and 6 Bronze stars representing action in six major battles. He traveled over 76,000 miles during the war and was awarded the Ancient Order of the Deep after crossing the Equator; which he had done seven times.
Clayton was a machinist with the Chicago Northwestern Railroad for 5 years. Later owned and operated Cooks Shoe Repair for 35 years retiring in 1984. In his career as a shoe repairman he did prescription shoe corrections for over 3,600 people. He was a member of Saint Paul Lutheran Church, enjoyed horses, hunting, fishing, swimming, and golf. He was a charter member of the Hawkeye Masters Swimmers.
Clayton married Doris McArdle in August of 1947; they later divorced. He later married Helen Petersen-Witt on May 31, 1986; she passed away July 19, 2016. He is survived by his four sons: David (Theresa) Cook of Crosby, Texas, Michael (Kathy) Cook of Clinton, Jeff (Georgia) Cook of Clinton, and Ron (Denise Karanosky) Cook of Clinton; 13 grandchildren, 5 step-grandchildren, several great grandchildren and step-great grandchildren, and one great-great grandson. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, a granddaughter: Emily, and two-step-sons: Charles & David Witt.
Memorials can be made to Saint Paul Lutheran Church or the Clinton Area Showboat Theater.
Published on May 28, 2020