Juanita D. "Nita" Cook 1924 - 2009

COOK, GRIFFITH, RAAB

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 8/5/2020 at 22:34:00

Sioux City Journal
29 March 2009

SERGEANT BLUFF -- Juanita D. "Nita" Cook, 85, of Sergeant Bluff died Thursday, March 26, 2009, at a local hospital.

A celebration of her life will be 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at George Nelson American Legion Post 662 in Sergeant Bluff. Arrangements are under the direction of Waterbury Funeral Service.

Nita was born Jan. 28, 1924, in Onawa, Iowa, to Albert and Lizzie (Griffith) Raab. Growing up, she attended many schools in the Sioux City area. After graduating from Salix Public High School, she attended Wayne State Teachers College to earn her B.A. in business education and English. She later earned her M.A. in business teacher education from the University of South Dakota. Nita was a believer in lifelong education and also kept current with her studies at the University of Iowa.

She married Jack Cook on June 20, 1947, in Sioux City. They lived, farmed and raised their family in Sergeant Bluff. Her professional career as a teacher and school administrator spanned over four decades in three high schools and culminated as Department Head of Business Occupations at Western Iowa Tech Community College (WIT). Nita taught at Hartington Public School, Anthon Public High School and instructed for 10 years at Sergeant Bluff-Luton High School.

She also served as a Business Occupations Instructor, General Education Instructor and Business Department Chairperson at WIT. Professional affiliations included state and national business education associations and the National Council of Teachers of English. Nita was also a member of the fraternal teaching association, Delta Pi Epsilon.

When her boys were young, Nita proudly taught Sunday school and Bible studies at United Methodist Church in Sergeant Bluff. In recent years, Nita enjoyed reading, writing and bird feeding. She also enjoyed gardening and working in the yard, but her favorite activities included spending time with her grandchildren. Nita was glad to have family visitors, and she and Jack welcomed them into their loving home at anytime. Both also enjoyed fishing and spending time with friends at their vacation home in Baudette, Minn.

She is survived by her husband, Jack Cook of Sergeant Bluff; three children and one daughter-in-law, Ronald Cook and his wife, Jennelle of Salix, Iowa, Dick Cook and his partner, Steven Kent Lockwood of St. Paul, Minn., Rolland Cook and his wife, Anne of Sergeant Bluff, and Sue Cook of Sergeant Bluff; 10 grandchildren, Robin Monckton, Tesa Maupin, Christie Cook, Clinton Cook, Joshua Cook, Mara Jorgensen, Zak Cook, Jessie Cook, Rhobia Brewer and Zeb Cook; three great-grandchildren, Caleb Maupin-Shannon, Ella Monckton and Breck Brewer; a sister-in-law, Shirley Raab of Vermillion, S.D.; a brother-in-law, Gene Cook and his wife, Phyllis; and many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

Nita was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Loretta and Corky; a brother, Wally; a favorite nephew, Denny Cook; and most recently, her son, Bob Cook, in 2003.