Lawrence "Larry" Cook 1914 - 1935

COOK

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 10/13/2017 at 09:35:18

Mapleton Press
12 December 1935

Burns To Death After Auto Hit Rail of Bridge
Body of Larry Cook Found In Wreckage of Sedan Near Castana, Thurs.

Charred so that identification was almost impossible, the body of Lawrence "Larry" Cook, 21-year old graduate of Mapleton high school where he was prominent in Future Farmer and livestock judging activities, was found in a burned car where it had crashed into the steel rail of a concrete bridge between Mapleton and Castana Wednesday night.

"Larry " apparently went to sleep while driving and was instantly killed when the car struck the bridge railing, as his skull was fractured. The car caught on fire and everything burnable on it was destroyed. The body of the young man who was unusually popular with young and old alike, was terribly burned—almost beyond recognition it is in the Byers Funeral home.

Funeral services will be held at 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon in the Evangelical church with Rev. E. Otto, pastor of the church, is in charge. Burial will be in Mt. Hope cemetery under the direction of the Byers Funeral home.

Second oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Will F. Cook, owners of Cook's cafe in Mapleton, "Larry " had worked nights in the cafe during the Iast year. He went to work at 10 o'clock at night and was relieved about 7 the next morning. He worked Tuesday night as usual. Wednesday, without getting any sleep, he accompanied M. O. Harrison and Dick Lefebvre to Omaha to bring back three used cars that Mr. Harrison planned to sell at his garage at the Shell service station here.

"Larry " drove back a 1932 Plymouth 2-door sedan. He stopped at Onawa on his way home in the late afternoon to bring two Mapleton girls her for a visit—Miss Virginia Prunty and Miss Glennis Seward, who work in Onawa. They arrived here safely and "Larry" bowled at the Mapleton alleys early Wednesday evening.

About 9:15 he asked Mr. Harrison if he could borrow the sedan that he had driven here from Omaha to take Miss Prunty and Miss Seward back to Onawa. Mr. Harrison consented and the party of three left here in the fatal car, arriving in Onawa shortly after 10 o'clock. After taking both girls to their rooming houses, "Larry " started back to Mapleton—about 11 o'clock.

When he did not get back at midnight, his father remained at the cafe to work for his son. His mother remained at the cafe until 3 o'clock and then went home. When no word had been received at 7 o'clock Thursday morning, Mr. Cook also went home, having been up all night.

In the meantime, "Larry" had crashed into the railing of the bridge—the second one this side of Castana—about 11:30 o'clock, the car caught fire and burned up with no one as a witness, as far as could be learned Thursday.

About an hour after the fatal crash, Charles Cooper and Eddie Anderson, who live near Castana, were driving home. They noticed the car on the bridge where the crash had taken place. Without investigation, they returned to Castana and awakened I. W. Huffaker, formerly of Mapleton and an employe of the State Highway Commission in charge of the roads near Castana.

The three went to the scene of the accident to take the car off the highway. On opening the car they found the body but did not know at the time who it might be. They called Sheriff Grover Rasmussen and the coroner at Onawa who took the body to Onawa and immediately started an investigation to find out who the young man was.

After telephoning Council Bluffs and Omaha, they learned who owned the car and that it was the one "Larry" had driven for Mr. Harrison and used to make the trip to Onawa. Parents of the boy then were notified about 8 o'clock Thursday morning, after their all-night vigil and the early morning investigation by the sheriff and coroner.

All of "Larry's" clothes were burned off with the exception of a small bit of a red sweater that he was wearing. Both arms and legs were burned away. His skull had a bad fracture which undoubtedly caused his death when the car crashed into the bridge railing. The body was brought to the Byers Funeral Home here Thursday morning from the Barnard Funeral home in Onawa where it was taken when found.

The car was taken into Castana. It is a complete wreck. The front end was caved in by the crash and everything that would possibly burn was gone.

Just what caused the fire no one ever will know. It may have been from a short circuit caused when the car hit the bridge, or from a cigarette that "Larry" may have been smoking. The gasoline tank did not explode, those who Inspected the car said.

That "Larry" fell to sleep while driving—as he had not been to bed since Tuesday morning—and the car struck the bridge after going along quite a distance near the edge of the highway, as marks in the gravel show, was the opinion of all who investigated the accident Thursday.

Reports that the car caught fire from a defective carburetor, and then crashed into the bridge, were being investigated, too. But whether anyone ever will know just what happened seemed doubtful Thursday night. Fog also may have caused the accident.

"Larry" was born November 10, 1914, in Mapleton and spent his entire life in this community, living on a farm with his parents until about a year ago when they moved to Mapleton and took charge of their cafe. He was graduated from Mapleton high school with the class of 1933. Orville Dawkins, who was killed a year ago in a car accident, was a classmate.

During his high school days 'Larry" was nicknamed "Siwash," but this name gradually gave way to "Larry" during the last few years. He was secretary and treasurer of the Future Farmers Club in his Freshman and Sophomore years and treasurer when he was a Junior. He went out for football his first year in high school, but during the other years gave it up for other activities, including work at home.

He was a member of the "M" club at the school and a member of the Glee club in his Senior year. He was on the livestock Judging teams two years and a member of the Future Farmer club four years.

When he was a Junior he won eighth place in the individual livestock Judging contest at Ames, held in connection with "Velsha Week" at Iowa State college. He was the only member of the Mapleton team to place.

Surviving are his parents, two sisters, Rosalie and Ruby, and four brothers, Ed, Donald, William and John Paul. The oldest, Ed was in Los Angeles at the time of the accident having driven a car there the first of the week for Don Head of the Service garage. He was located Thursday afternoon and will arrive home Saturday for the funeral.

The editor of The Press knew “Larry" as a fine young man—ono who made the most of his time in school and worked hard at his father's farm after school hours, on Saturdays and Sundays and during Summer vacation. After his graduation he worked at the farm until his father entered the cafe business.

After spending some little time in trying to find a reliable young man to have charge of the café at night, Mr. Cook gave the work to "Larry." Young as he was, he assumed the responsibility like a mature man and was making a success of the work. His untimely death not only removes a splendid young man from the community, but deprives it of a lad who seemed certain to be a fine business executive.

The Press Joins with the many friends of Mr. and Mrs. Cook and their fine family in extending the deepest of sympathy to them in their great loss. May the others —the brothers and sisters—''carry on" to even greater heights than "Larry" seemed destined to reach.

Mapleton Press
19 December 1935

Large Crowd At Funeral Sunday Services for 'Larry' Cook In Evangelical Church— Burial in Mt. Hope

One of the largest crowds that ever attended a funeral in Mapleton was present In the Evangelical church Sunday afternoon for services for Lawrence "Larry" Cook, 21-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. William F. Cook, who was killed in an automobile accident between Mapleton and Castana Wednesday night of last week.

'Larry" apparently fell to sleep while driving home from Onawa and met instant death when the car crashed into the steel railing of a concrete bridge just this side of Castana.

The car caught fire and burned up. "Larry" was alone and there were no witnesses to the accident. With the auditorium of the church filled to overflowing, a loud speaker was placed in the basement where several hundred gathered to pay tribute to the courteous young man. A profusion of beautiful flowers paid a silent tribute—far greater than words.

Rev. E. Otte, pastor of the church, preached a splendid sermon—a talk to the living.

Members of a girl's quartet, Burnita Nielsen, Bonita Passick, Phyllis Clausen and Dorothy Gosch, sang "Sometime We Will Understand" and "Just When I Need Him Most."

Pallbearers were Francis Sasges. Nemo Seltzinger, Owen Brown, Bennie Coe, Norman Kurth, Dick Lefebvre, Wilfred Sanford and Maurice Zediker.

Members of the High School " M " club, Future Farmers club and class mates attended the services in a body. Burial was in Mt. Hope cemetery under the direction of the Byers Funeral Home.

Born in Mapleton November 10, 1914, "Larry" lived on a farm west of Mapleton with his parents until about a year ago when they moved to town. During the last year he worked nights in his father's cafe on North Fourth street. "Larry" was graduated from Mapleton high school with the class of 1933. He was secretary and treasurer of the Future Farmers club in his Freshman and Sophomore years and treasurer when he was a Junior. He went out for football his first year in high school, but gave It up for other activities including work at home. He was a member of the "XI" club at the school and a member of the Glee club in his Senior year. He was on the livestock judging teams two years and a member of the Future Farmer club four years.

Surviving are his parents, two sisters, Rosalie and Ruby, and four brothers, Ed, Donald, William and John Paul, Ed, who was in California at the time of the accident, came home by airplane to be present at the services.

He also is survived by his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. H. F. Cook and Ed. Jones and a host of other relatives and friends.