Services
Obituary
Ralph Ernest Cook Sr., 86, of Britt passed away Tuesday, June 1, 2010 at Hancock County Memorial Hospital Hospice Unit in Britt, Iowa.
Funeral services for Ralph Cook Sr. will be held on Saturday, June 5, 2010 at 10:00 AM at the United Methodist Church in Britt with Pastor Robert Dodge officiating. Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Wesley, Iowa.
Visitation will be held on Friday, June 4, 2010 from 5-7 PM at Ewing Funeral Chapel, 178 Center Street West, in Britt and will continue one hour prior to services at the church.
Ralph was born April 22, 1924 in Orthel Township to Joseph and Hettie (Gordon) Cook. He grew up and attended school in the rural Britt area until 8th grade. For several years after this he worked for a variety of local farmers. He then enlisted in the U.S. Army until his honorable discharge in 1947. Some of this time was served overseas including time in post war Germany.
On March 1, 1951 he was married to Mary E. Thompson at Trinity Lutheran Church in Forest City. All of their married life was spent in the Britt area working and raising their six children.
Ralph was employed for 19 years at the Farmers Co-op in Britt and at Thermogas of Britt for 16 years until his retirement in 1985. After this he continued to work for several local farmers for quite a few years.
Ralph enjoyed his family very much especially when the grandkids and great-grandkids came to visit. His other interests were caring for his huge garden, woodworking and tinkering with bicycles, lawn mowers, etc.
Ralph is survived by his wife of 59 years, Mary E. Cook and their children, Ralph (Robbi) Cook Jr. of Britt, Joseph (Jane) Cook of Britt, Karen (Dan) Peterson of Britt, Mark (Julie) Cook of Britt, Steven (Jill) Cook of Algona and Terry Cook of Garner; 19 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and his brothers Marvin, Kenneth and Norman.
He was preceded in death by his parents, 2 sisters and 5 brothers.