Donald R. 'Don' Cook

Donald R. “Don” Cook Sr., age 82, of Dubuque, was called home peacefully at 7:45 a.m., on Sunday, October 29, 2017, at home, surrounded by his loving family. To honor Don’s life, a time of sharing will be held at 6:30 p.m., on Thursday, November 2, 2017, at Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main Street. To celebrate Don’s life, family and friends may visit from 3:00 p.m., until the time of services at 6:30 p.m., on Thursday, November 2, 2017, at Behr Funeral Home. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery.

Don was born on February 14, 1935, in Cuba City, WI, son of Maurice and Emma (Jones) Cook Sr.

Don was a proud graduate of Dubuque Senior High School and was shortly after united in marriage to the love of his life, Edith Specht, on December 3, 1955, in Dubuque. They have been blessed with 61 wonderful years together, and 6 children. Don spent over 36 years of his life providing for his family as an elevator technician for both Montgomery and Otis Elevator Companies, before finally retiring in 1992. In his free-time, Don enjoyed spending a little quality time in the kitchen with his grandson, Chris, venturing up to Lake Michigan for his yearly Salmon haul, and wrenching in the garage on anything mechanical (but most especially stockcars). Don was definitely an easy going man who didn’t let the world around him rattle his disposition very often. His kind and generous heart was generally on display for those he cared for, and the role modeling he presented so easily over the years will be carried on through his generations to follow. We will surely miss our dear husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend, but we are eternally grateful for the 82 years worth of love and lessons Don leaves behind for us to treasure until we meet again.

Those left to cherish Don’s memory include

his loving wife,
Edith Cook, Dubuque, IA;

his 6 children,
Donald “Butch” Cook, Jr.,
Debra “Deb” Doll,
Bill Cook,
Charles “Chuck” (Patty) Cook,
Robert “Bob” (Heidi) Cook, all of Dubuque, IA
and Carol (Troy) Hackbarth, Rockford, IL;

his 10 grandchildren,
Amy, Michelle, Josh, Eric, Clayton, Ryan, Chris, Sydney, Skyler and Addison;

his 4 great-grandchildren;

his brother,
Garey (Carrie) Cook, Rockford, IL;

his sister-in-law, Ellen Cook, Jacksonville, NC;

and his brother-in-law, Dean March, Dubuque, IA.

Don was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Betty March; and 2 brothers, Bevan Cook and Maurice Cook Jr.

A Donald R. “Don” Cook memorial fund has been established, which will be distributed among his favorite charities.