Rook, Dennis Beall 1938-2017

ROOK, BEALL, HUDNUTT, HASLOW

Posted By: Marilyn Norris Holmes
Date: 9/25/2017 at 13:30:08

Smith Funeral Home Obituaries
Grinnell, Iowa

DENNIS B. ROOK

Dennis Rook, age 79, of Grinnell died on Tuesday, September 19, 2017, at his home.

A funeral service will be held 10:00 a.m., Saturday, September 23rd at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell with Pastor Catherine Burroughs officiating. Military honors will be provided by the Grinnell Veterans Ceremonial Unit. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Memorials may be designated to the Dennis Rook Memorial Fund and mailed in care of the Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, Iowa 50112. Condolences may be shared with his family online at www.smithfh.com.

Dennis Beall Rook was born the son of Thomas Stanford Rook and Madge Marie (Beall) Rook on June 20, 1938, in Ottumwa, Iowa. He was raised on the Hudnutt family farm near Grinnell and graduated from Grinnell High School with the class of 1956.

Dennis served in the United States Army from 1961 until 1967 and was stationed in Germany. He returned to Grinnell and was employed at Donaldson's in Grinnell, where he worked as a welder for over 30 years and also farmed southeast of Grinnell. He later held jobs with Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance and Meskwaki Casino in Tama. He was a member of the Elks Lodge in Grinnell.

Dennis was an outdoorsman who loved life on the farm. He had a zest for life and enjoyed fishing, camping, gambling, and family gatherings. He loved to cheer on the Nebraska Cornhuskers and shed no tears when the Iowa Hawkeyes lost. Dennis held a special passion for collecting old cars and his favorite was his '57 Chevy. He will be remembered for his fun-loving, joking personality and for the love of his family.

Dennis is survived by his two sons, Michael Rook of Scotts, Michigan and Terry Rook of Aurora, Colorado; two grandsons, Christen Rook of Lithia, Florida and Tanner Rook of Aurora, Colorado; two brothers, Mike and Randy Hudnutt; and his sister, Judy Haslow.

Dennis was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Fred Rook.