Robert Bertram COOKE, Jr.

COOKE, DELANO, SUMMERS, WHIPPLE, CRAWFORD, KLUSS, LIDEL

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:45

November 2, 1932 ---- December 2, 2017

Robert B. Cooke, Jr. age 85, of Belmond, IA, died, Saturday, December 2, 2017, at the Rehabilitation Center of Belmond with his family at his side. Funeral services will be Friday, 11:00 a.m, December 8, 2017, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 304 3rd Ave., N.E., Belmond, IA. The Rev. Dawn Pederson will be officiating. Burial will be in the Belmond Cemetery. Visitation will be 4-7 PM Thursday, at Andrews Funeral Home, 516 1st St. S.E., Belmond and will continue one hour prior to the services at church Friday. The family suggests those wishing to express their sympathies through a memorial or card in Bob’s name may wish to consider the Belmond-Klemme Schools Scholarship II Foundation, Trinity Lutheran Church, the Belmond Historical Society, family, or to the donor’s choice.

Robert Bertram Cooke Jr. was born November 2, 1932 to Nina Genevieve (Delano) and Robert Bertram Cooke Sr. He grew up in Clarion, Iowa and during his high school years he participated in football, track and basketball. He met the love of his life Bernadine Summers while roller skating at Lake Cornelia Roller Rink. They were married on Bob's birthday, November 2nd, and just celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. To this union they were blessed with three children. Bob started his career driving a milk truck for the Clarion Dairy. From there, he became a mechanic working in Belmond at Ford Motors. In 1963 he went to work as the Transportation Supervisor for the Belmond School system. In 1973 Bob bought Super America and began his life long career working on autos, selling Snapper mowers, and doing small engine repairs. He persisted with his passion even after retirement, continuing to work on small engines in his garage.

Bob served on the Belmond City Council for more than 30 years and also on the Planning & Zoning Commission for approximately 20 years. He was also a Scout Master and Equipment Chairman for Troop 16 of the Boy Scouts. During that time, he built a race track for the Pinewood Derby and in 1976 he accompanied four other adult scouts and approximately 25 boy scouts to Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico, for a week. While serving with the Scouts, he received the Award of Merit and Klondike Pete awards. Bob enjoyed camping and fishing with family and friends, in Iowa and Minnesota. In addition, he and Bernadine enjoyed golfing in local golf tournaments, and going to dances.

Bob leaves cherished memories with his wife Bernadine, daughters Debra (Wendel) Whipple of Mason City, Diane (Jon) Crawford of Belmond, and son Lynn Cooke of Runnels, plus 5 grandchildren, and 9 great grandchildren, plus numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, 2 sisters Beth Kluss and Carlene Cooke, 2 brothers Jerry and Ron, and one great grandson Jacob Lidel. Plus in-laws Aus and Gladys Summers, Bill Summers, and Bob Summers. Andrews Funeral Home, Belmond.

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