Jack Shade Cook 1923- 2009

COOK, SHADE, BERTRAND, RAAB

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/16/2013 at 10:30:35

Sioux City Journal
6 December 2009

SERGEANT BLUFF -- Jack Shade Cook, 86, of Sergeant Bluff died Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009, at a local care center.

A celebration of his life will be 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at American Legion George Nelson Post 662. Arrangements are under the direction of Waterbury Funeral Service.

Jack was born May 15, 1923, in Sioux City, to Clinton C. and Mina (Shade) Cook. He attended Sergeant Bluff School and graduated in 1941.

In 1942 he was united in marriage to Ruby Bertrand. She bore him one son before her untimely death. Jack was united in marriage to Juanita "Nita" Raab in 1947. She bore him three more sons, and they were married for more than 61 years. He made his home in rural Sergeant Bluff his entire life.

Jack was a longtime member and served as a director and board president of the former Sergeant Bluff Farmers Elevator. He served as township trustee and was a member of United Methodist Church. He was a Mason and Shriner. He was a member of the National Farmers Organization (NFO) and served as secretary of the local organization. For more than 40 years, Jack did farm-to-market trucking of both grain and livestock around the local area. In 1974, he and Nita formed "Jack Cook Farms, Inc.," the family farm that remains in business today. During the 1980s, he formed "Jack Cook Co.," a business dedicated to over-the-road trucking nationwide. Jack had been recognized by local truckers with a "Lifetime Achievement Award."

Most importantly, Jack was a crop and livestock farmer from his boyhood days to the end of his life. He never really retired, but did find time for many hobbies. His musical skills included guitar, mandolin, fiddle and flute. He enjoyed ATVs and snowmobiling, gardening (pumpkins, potatoes and sweet corn) and caring for animals. Fishing was his greatest passion. Jack loved to fish with numerous friends over the years, and especially with Nita and their grandchildren, either in a boat or on the ice. Their vacation home on the Lake of the Woods in Baudette, Minn., became the source of much happiness and many close friends.

Jack is survived by three sons, Ronald Cook and his wife, Jennelle (Kirchman) of Salix, Iowa, Richard Cook and his partner, Steven Lockwood of St. Paul, Minn., Rolland Cook and his wife, Anne (Maupin) of Sergeant Bluff; a daughter-in-law, Sue Cook of Sergeant Bluff; 10 grandchildren, Robin Monckton, Tesa Maupin, Christy Cook, Clinton T. Cook, Josh Cook, Mara Jorgensen, Zak Cook, Jessie Cook, Rhobia Brewer and Zeb Cook; five great-grandchildren, Caleb Shannon, Ella Monckton, Breck Brewer, Jace Jorgensen and Weston Brewer; a brother, Gene Cook and his wife, Phyllis of Sergeant Bluff; a sister-in law, Shirley Raab of Vermillion, S.D.; and many other friends and extended family.

Jack was preceded in death by both wives; his parents; a son, Robert Cook; a sister, Dorothy Durkoop; and a brother, Clinton C. Cook Jr.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Hospice of Siouxland.