Granville Paul Hook 1934-2010

HOOK, BLAKE, COHAGAN, WEST, DILLARD, RITCHIE

Posted By: Curtis (email)
Date: 9/15/2010 at 10:05:43

DEATH NOTICE:

(The Leon Journal-Reporter Leon, Iowa September 8, 2010)

HOOD, G.P. "Bud", 75, of Weldon, died Monday, August 30, 2010, at Iowa Methodist Center in Des Moines, Iowa. Funeral Services were at 10:30 a.m., Friday, September 3, 2010, at Kale Funeral Home in Osceola with Pastor Dennis Huffman officiating. Interment was held in the Maple Hill Cemetery in Osceola, Iowa, following the services. Memorial contributions may be directed to his family for a fitting memorial to be decided at a later date.

Obituary -

BUD HOOK ... Granville Paul "Bud" Hook, son of Harold E. Hook and Fern Elizabeth [Blake] Hook was born, November 18, 1934 in Phoenix, AZ. He passed from this life Monday, August 30, 2010 at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa at 75 years of age.

Though he battled and conquered some insurmountable odds, he was swiftly taken from his beloved family by an unexpected massive stroke.

After the death of his father, at age 8, Bud and his mother and brother moved from Phoenix to Des Moines. He attended Des Moines Schools and graduated from Des Moines Technical High School, while taking some singing lessons at Drake University. He was united in marriage to Connie Lee Keeler on April 7, 1956 in Weldon, Iowa. In May 1957, a son, Kim Anthony was born, living only 12 hours. Soon after, Bud was drafted into the U.S. Army and served from October 1957 to November of 1960. He was very proud of his service at the Thule Air Base in Greenland, working with the Nike Air Missle System. During this tour, a daughter, Tami Sue, was born. Because of her severe medical problems, he was transferred back to stateside to Pleasant Hill, Missouri to finish his service.

After discharge, he and Connie returned to her childhood home in Weldon, Iowa, where they lived and farmed for the next 50 years. They were blessed with two more children, Bambi Lou and Scott Alan. They opened their home to eighty seven foster children from 1968 to 2009.

Bud worked in the mail room at Des Moines Register early in life; then later as a line worker at Delavan Manufacturing; drove a school bus for Clarke Community and Central Decatur Schools; he was a very active member of the Farm Bureau serving many county offices including President for several years; he was the Weldon Marshall for many years; was a volunteer for water recovery for Clarke and Decatur County Sherriffs. Bud was honored on different occasions with various community service awards by the Govenor of Iowa, which revolved mainly around his many years of service with foster children. His beautiful voice was known to hundreds around the area as he was frequently asked to sing at funerals, weddings and special programs. He spent 18 years as a singer with the Don Carson's Rhythm Dusters Band. He performed at and was Master of Ceremonies at many different functions. He was a very active member of the Weldon Christian Church, serving multiple positions to include, song leader, Sunday School Superintendent, Sunday School Teacher, Deacon, and Elder. His hobbies included woodworking and sharing his talent with others. He was a humanitarian and loved all animals and enjoyed telling and hearing a good joke.

Bud always had a smile, was loved by many and touched the lives of countless people. Perhaps the most genuinely sincere quote that encompasses the impact Bud has had on people and the quality of his character was recently shared with his family: "When he saw you, his face lit up like you were just the person he was looking for, even while shopping in the grocery store. He always greeted people with a hug and making them feel like they'd made his day, but it was definitely the other way around".

Those relatives who preceded Bud in death were his parents; brother, Robert Blake Hook; infant son, Kim Anthony and daughter, Tami Sue.

He leaves to cherish his memory, wife, Connie; a daughter, Bambi and husband Dennis Cohagan of Abingdon, IL, granddaughter Shae Nicole Cohagan of Abingdon, IL, grandson Jacob and Anisa Cohagan and his first great-granddaughter Nevaeh Marie Cohagan of Anton, IL; a son, Scott Hook and significant other Angie Gannon of Weldon, IA; grandchildren Cicily Cheyenne Hook and Gannon Keeler Hook of Carlisle, IA; sisters-in-law, Eula (Eddie) West of Weldon; Opal Dillard of Indianola; niece, Linda Ritchie; nephews Bobby Hook, Kevin West, Geron West, Mark (Theresa) West; other relatives and many, Many friends.