Joe Sullivan Cook, 18 Mar 1932 - 17 May 2021

COOK, SULLIVAN, EVANS, SANKOT, GRANROTH, LARSON, NGUYEN TURNER, STREETS, MANN, WESCOTT, SACKETT, WILLIAMS

Posted By: Sarah Witte (email)
Date: 6/3/2021 at 10:16:32

Joe Sullivan Cook, 89, of Cedar Rapids, passed the evening of May 17, 2021, at the Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy. He was born March 18,1932, to Joseph M. Cook and Nell A. (Sullivan) Cook in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Following graduation from Marion High School, Joe joined the U.S. Navy on July 1, 1950. He served 4 years, 43 months of which was sea duty, nearly all in Korean waters and the far east on the USS Kaskaskia. He received nine U.S. medals and citations, including the Korean War Medal with seven campaign stars and the combat action ribbon. The Republic of South Korea issued him the Presidential Unit Citation and two other medals. Joe was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion.

After his honorable discharge he eloped with Margaret Evans on July 10, 1954; on March 28, 1955, they married again at St. Joseph's Catholic Church with family and friends. Together they raised four children.

In his 36-year career with the Cedar Rapids Health Department (later called Linn County Health Department) he was instrumental in initiating and running the evening Public Health Clinic.

When retired, he and Margaret were snowbirds for 22 years in Haines City, Florida. They enjoyed road trips throughout the country for Navy reunions. His hobbies ranged from photography, wine-making, archery, friendly poker games, and swimming. He loved his many pets. He most liked a cup of coffee in the morning with the paper while listening to jazz or big band music, and a glass of scotch in the evening.

Joe was preceded in death by his loving wife of 66 years, Margaret; parents, Nell and Joseph; sisters and their husbands, Phyllis (Bill) Turner, Harriet (Gene) Streets and Shirley (Elwood) Mann; in-laws, Johns and Virginia Evans, Raymond, Marlene and Phillip Evans; two nieces, Sandra (Turner) Wescott and Cheryle (Turner) Sackett; one nephew, Gabe Williams; and "most everybody I knew" in youth.

Joe is survived by children, Jennifer (Paul) Sankot of Belle Plaine, Tim (Anne) Cook of Cedar Rapids, Janice (Larry Granroth) Cook-Granroth of Iowa City and Jo Cook of West Des Moines; grandchildren, Chris (Laurel) Sankot of Amana, Jason Granroth of Iowa City, Cory (Hannah Larson) Sankot of Rochester, Minn., Justin Carolyn of Marion, Leah (Tony) Nguyen of Portland, Ore., and Nolan Cook of Cedar Rapids; great-grandchildren, Sworn, Sovereign and Solace Sankot; his sister-in-law, Martha Evans of Cedar Rapids; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Visitation for Joe and Margaret will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday, June 3, at the Cedar Memorial Chapel Stateroom. Joe's funeral will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 3, at the Cedar Memorial Chapel Stateroom. Margaret's funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 5, at St. Jude's Catholic Church. A reception will immediately follow at the Cedar Memorial Family Center. Private interment will be held. All guests are respectfully requested to wear a face mask and practice social distancing for the health and safety of others; there are family members with health issues.

Many thanks to Dr. Brownell and his entire staff, Doug at Blairs Ferry Family Pharmacy, the staffs at Mercy Hospital and Oldorf Hospice House for the excellent care provided to Joe.

Joe was an avid supporter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, The American Legion, Paralyzed Veterans of America, The American Cancer Society and HACAP; please donate in lieu of Flowers. Online condolences may be left at www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.

Published in The Gazette on May 30, 2021.