Deacon David Allan Cook, PhD

David “Dave” Allan Cook, 84, born March 11, 1940, in Colby, WI, died July 24, 2024, at the Heritage Center of Holiday Healthcare in Evansville, IN. 

David was the oldest of five sons born to Roderick and Leona (Steinwand) Cook. He was baptized, confirmed, received his first communion, and married in St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church in Colby. He grew up on the family dairy farm, played sports, and showed cattle in the area 4-H fairs. David was proud of his Dairyland heritage, especially that his grandfather’s brother, Joseph Steinwand, developed the process for making Colby cheese.

David graduated from Colby High School in 1958 and, shortly thereafter, started dating his classmate, Virginia “Ginny” Apfelbeck. Each pursued their undergraduate educations at separate colleges 300 miles apart, but their relationship grew through the many letters they wrote to each other over those four years.

David and Ginny married on April 28, 1962, and moved to Ames, IA where David earned a Doctoral degree in Nutrition at Iowa State University. Their first two children, Patrick (1963) and Paula (1964), were born in Ames. Their son, Joseph (1968), was born in Minneapolis, MN during Dave’s post-doctoral year in Biochemistry at the University of Minnesota. The family moved to Evansville in January 1969 where Dave began his 31-year career at Mead Johnson. Their fourth child, Julia, was born in 1974.

In his work at Mead Johnson (later Bristol Myers), David was principally responsible for the research and development of nutritional products for infants, including those for children with special nutritional needs associated with a wide range of metabolic and gastrointestinal disorders. He also worked to develop products for adults with special nutritional needs. He was promoted to Vice President of Research and Development in 1985 and retired in 2000.

David then entered the Permanent Deaconate Formation program for the Diocese of Evansville and was ordained on July 9, 2005 by Bishop Gerald Gettelfinger. He served thirteen years at St. Benedict Cathedral. As a deacon, David conducted baptisms and burial rites following funerals, assisted priests and bishops at liturgies in the cathedral, and with the assistance of his wife, Ginny, led the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA). He retired from active diaconal ministry in 2018. Many were blessed by his kindness, gentleness, patience, and pastoral care.

David and Ginny were honored by their home parish of Christ the King with the Simon Bruté Society Award for their many charitable and ministerial activities within the parish. They also attended Cursillo. They’ve been involved with Habitat for Humanity, the St. Vincent de Paul Society Food Pantry, and their sister parish of St. Suzanne in Haiti. David and Ginny traveled extensively, touring all 50 U.S. State Capitol Buildings, visiting over 40 countries, and enjoying many cruises. David also loved reading, yardwork, and cheering for both the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Cubs.

In addition to a lifetime of noteworthy achievements, David will be remembered for the donation of the Opus 52 pipe organ that he and Ginny gifted to St. Benedict Cathedral.

David is survived by Ginny, his wife of 62 years; children Patrick (Pamela) Cook of Sammamish, WA, Paula (Frank) Kepes of Evansville, IN, Joseph (Lisa) Cook of Santa Claus, IN, and Julia (Curtis) Zella of Horicon, WI; grandchildren Katherine Cook (Trevor Green), Daniel Cook, Sarah Cook, Alexander (Christina) Kosiak, Christopher Kosiak, Olivia Cook, and Martin Cook; step-grandchildren Jacob Kepes and Hannah Kepes; great-granddaughters Leona Kosiak and Vera Kosiak; and brothers Michael (Juanamaria) of Columbia, MO, Gary (Monica) of Statesville, NC, and Kevin (Pamela) of Whitehouse Station, NJ. He was preceded in death by his parents, Roderick and Leona Cook, brother Ronald, and grandsons Andrew Kosiak and Michael Kosiak.

The family extends their gratitude to the Heritage Center and all of the caregivers who provided comfort and support to David and his family during his final days.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, July 31 at St. Benedict Cathedral. Fr. Godfrey Mullen, OSB, presiding with concelebrants Fr. Alex Zenthoefer and Fr. Benny Chacko assisted by Deacons David Rice and John McMullen. Friends may call from 3:00 – 7:00 PM on Tuesday, July 30 at Ziemer Funeral Home East Chapel, 800 S. Hebron with rosary and prayer service beginning at 7:00 PM. Visitation continues from 10:00 AM to the beginning of Mass at St. Benedict Cathedral.

There will be a visitation from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 3, 2024 at St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church, 205 S. 2nd Street, Colby, WI 54421. A Prayer service will begin at 11:00 a.m. Burial will take place at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Colby, WI.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society General Fund, 809 N. Lafayette Ave., Evansville, IN 47711, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorials Processing, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959 or your favorite charity.