1932
David
2016
David Cook
January 11, 1932 — February 16, 2016
David Laurence Cook, 84, January 11, 1932 – February 16, 2016
David was born in Williston, ND, to parents Ruth (Wilkinson) and Laurence/Larry Cook. One year and 6 days later he got a little brother, James/Jim. Dave always said if the difference was 6 days short of a year, his brother never would have become an adult. They both suffered from the early loss of their mother a year and a half later. Since their father worked on the railroad as a barber, the boys went to a Masonic home in Chicago until his dad remarried. The family lived in Hazelcrest, Illinois through elementary school. Then, they moved to Anderson, Indiana for a brief stay which ended in a divorce for his dad and stepmother. The guys then moved to Kankakee, Illinois, and Dave’s paternal grandmother took over the daily care of the brothers after his father contracted tuberculosis. Dave was always a reader and spent more time reading than on his studies. In 1949, he left high school early, passed his GED, and joined the Air Force. While in boot camp, his father passed away.
Dave enjoyed his 12 years in the active duty, though he was stationed in many of the coldest, remotest bases as a radar technician – Iceland, Alaska, North Dakota and an island off North Carolina (which was practically tropical). He finally landed at Richards-Gebaur in KC. On Veterans Day, in 1959, he went on a blind date and met Emma Ellinor Ledwith. They married one year and one week after they met, on November 19, 1960. In 1961, Dave left the Air Force to take advantage of the GI Bill. At that time he transferred to the Missouri National Air. He retired as a Master Sergeant in 1970.
During those early years of married life, Dave and Emma lived at various places in Kansas City. Starting in a studio on the plaza, and progressing through a one-bedroom on the Paseo, they eventually rented a small house in Independence, MO as the family grew. During these years, he briefly drove a taxi and later worked as a warehouseman at Sears. He started out going to the Kansas City Junior College (now the Metropolitan Community College). On June 25, 1963, they welcomed their firstborn, Kathryn Elaine, into the world. Just 2 years later, on October 14, 1965, Cynthia Ann completed their small family. He graduated from community college and transferred to the Missouri School of Mines (now the Missouri University of Science and Technology) and earned a degree in Applied Mathematics. Dave commuted to Rolla, coming home on the weekends to be with Emma and the girls. It was during his college years that Dave got involved with spelunking, a love that stayed with him always. After graduation in the spring of 1967, Dave got a job programming for Hallmark Cards, and he and Emma purchased their house in Overland Park in 1968.
Dave enjoyed a long career at Hallmark, where he was much respected for his knowledge and attention to detail. He finally retired in 1997, after 30 years. Since both girls had long moved out of the home, he and Emma began to see the world. They went to Europe several times and took cruises to both Hawaii and Alaska. During this time, two grandchildren were added to the family, Thomas David Kraus in 1998 and Magdalena Virginia Kraus in 2000.
Throughout his life, Dave read. Many people will tell you of first meeting him with a book in hand. He and Emma, through the encouragement of daughter Elaine, joined a book club that she had organized. That book club became so much more and Dave and Emma became parents to everyone. Dave surprised Emma on their Golden Wedding Anniversary with a renewal of vows on November 19, 2010, with the book club and family as witnesses. On November 19, 2015, they celebrated 55 years of marriage at K’Machos.
Dave is preceded in death by his parents, his brother and eldest daughter.
He is survived by his wife of the home, younger daughter, son-in-law and two grandchildren, all in Manhattan, KS.
A visitation will be held Monday February 22 from 10-11am, with a service to follow at 11am, at Johnson County Chapel and Memorial Gardens, 11200 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park, KS 66210.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be to St. Luke’s Hospice, 3516 Summit St, Kansas City, MO 64111 or Reading is Fundamental, www.rif.org
David was born in Williston, ND, to parents Ruth (Wilkinson) and Laurence/Larry Cook. One year and 6 days later he got a little brother, James/Jim. Dave always said if the difference was 6 days short of a year, his brother never would have become an adult. They both suffered from the early loss of their mother a year and a half later. Since their father worked on the railroad as a barber, the boys went to a Masonic home in Chicago until his dad remarried. The family lived in Hazelcrest, Illinois through elementary school. Then, they moved to Anderson, Indiana for a brief stay which ended in a divorce for his dad and stepmother. The guys then moved to Kankakee, Illinois, and Dave’s paternal grandmother took over the daily care of the brothers after his father contracted tuberculosis. Dave was always a reader and spent more time reading than on his studies. In 1949, he left high school early, passed his GED, and joined the Air Force. While in boot camp, his father passed away.
Dave enjoyed his 12 years in the active duty, though he was stationed in many of the coldest, remotest bases as a radar technician – Iceland, Alaska, North Dakota and an island off North Carolina (which was practically tropical). He finally landed at Richards-Gebaur in KC. On Veterans Day, in 1959, he went on a blind date and met Emma Ellinor Ledwith. They married one year and one week after they met, on November 19, 1960. In 1961, Dave left the Air Force to take advantage of the GI Bill. At that time he transferred to the Missouri National Air. He retired as a Master Sergeant in 1970.
During those early years of married life, Dave and Emma lived at various places in Kansas City. Starting in a studio on the plaza, and progressing through a one-bedroom on the Paseo, they eventually rented a small house in Independence, MO as the family grew. During these years, he briefly drove a taxi and later worked as a warehouseman at Sears. He started out going to the Kansas City Junior College (now the Metropolitan Community College). On June 25, 1963, they welcomed their firstborn, Kathryn Elaine, into the world. Just 2 years later, on October 14, 1965, Cynthia Ann completed their small family. He graduated from community college and transferred to the Missouri School of Mines (now the Missouri University of Science and Technology) and earned a degree in Applied Mathematics. Dave commuted to Rolla, coming home on the weekends to be with Emma and the girls. It was during his college years that Dave got involved with spelunking, a love that stayed with him always. After graduation in the spring of 1967, Dave got a job programming for Hallmark Cards, and he and Emma purchased their house in Overland Park in 1968.
Dave enjoyed a long career at Hallmark, where he was much respected for his knowledge and attention to detail. He finally retired in 1997, after 30 years. Since both girls had long moved out of the home, he and Emma began to see the world. They went to Europe several times and took cruises to both Hawaii and Alaska. During this time, two grandchildren were added to the family, Thomas David Kraus in 1998 and Magdalena Virginia Kraus in 2000.
Throughout his life, Dave read. Many people will tell you of first meeting him with a book in hand. He and Emma, through the encouragement of daughter Elaine, joined a book club that she had organized. That book club became so much more and Dave and Emma became parents to everyone. Dave surprised Emma on their Golden Wedding Anniversary with a renewal of vows on November 19, 2010, with the book club and family as witnesses. On November 19, 2015, they celebrated 55 years of marriage at K’Machos.
Dave is preceded in death by his parents, his brother and eldest daughter.
He is survived by his wife of the home, younger daughter, son-in-law and two grandchildren, all in Manhattan, KS.
A visitation will be held Monday February 22 from 10-11am, with a service to follow at 11am, at Johnson County Chapel and Memorial Gardens, 11200 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park, KS 66210.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be to St. Luke’s Hospice, 3516 Summit St, Kansas City, MO 64111 or Reading is Fundamental, www.rif.org
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