Gale Wayne Cook

Born on Friday, December 17, 1920, Gale Wayne Cook became the first born child of Mina May (Chamberlain) and George Mahlan Cook, in Saint James, Nebraska. Coming into this world just two years after the end of World War 1, life was not easy for this young family.

At age 3, the family moved to Anacortes, WA. Gale later had a sister La Vonne and brother Donald to keep him company. Later, his parents divorced and Gale, then a teenager, moved with his mom, sister and brother to a small place in Georgetown.

In 1939, he graduated from Cleveland High School with an emphasis on drafting, something he loved to do. He attended Broadway Vocational and graduated in 1940. He worked at Langendorf Bakery and it was during this period, he married his first wife, Avis.

September 16, 1940, he enlisted in the Army National Guard, 41st Division, Service Company, 162nd Infantry. A son was born in 1941.

The United States of America joined World War II as war was declared December 7, 1941 with the bombing of Pearl Harbor, HI by the Japanese. After 4 months of training, his division was deployed to the South Pacific to the Philippines on March 19, 1942 from Fort Lewis, WA. He was a heavy truck driver and responsible for transporting ammunition, supplies, sand and gravel, personnel in all types of terrain, trained in black-out driving and making his own emergency repairs. He also taught small arms – 50 caliber and smaller and was very proud of that.

While in the South Pacific, he contracted Malaria. His unit was deactivated July 31, 1945 and at that time his rank was Tec-5. The atomic bombs were dropped on Japan August 6 and 9 and Emperor Hirohito surrendered August 15 and the formal surrender was September 2, 1945.

After returning to the states, he reunited with his wife and son. He then attended Edison Vocational from 1945 to 1946 and graduated. Another son was born March 1949 and then Avis and Gale divorced in 1950.

He married Arleen Katherine in 1955 and resided in West Seattle in a home he still had to this day. He had custody of his two sons from his first marriage. Four more sons were born to the Cook Family during the years 1955-1959. So 6 boys ages 17 to newborn in that tiny house in West Seattle by 1959.

Gale worked for Boeing for a short time and then General Electric in the early 1960's. He then got a job working for Frankfurter, Inc an engineering firm in Seattle. The firm was later bought out by HNTB in the early 1970's.

In August of 1983, Gale had cancer surgery to remove part of his left lung. Five years later, a new cancer took part of his right lung. He never received any chemo or radiation and did not have to live on oxygen. He could not walk and talk at the same time, but he did extremely well considering he only had 2 of his 5 lobes of his lungs. He continued working for HNTB until the second lung surgery, whereby he retired.

In the '50's and '60's, he and wife Arleen loved to square dance, he also bowled in a league. He is a member of the Footprinters, the Fraternal Order of Eagles for 29 years and a lifetime member of the American Legion. An avid sportsman, he enjoyed hunting and fishing. He also loved his sports teams, the Seattle Seahawks and Mariners. He and Arleen made several trips a year to Reno, Nevada to visit with friends and gamble. They also made a couple of trips to see the Mariners in spring training in Peoria, Arizona and visited Mexico, as well. After retirement, he enjoyed spending time with his friends and making his “rounds” every day to see them.

Arleen passed from cancer in January 2005, just short of their 50th Wedding Anniversary. He took her death very hard but tried not to show it. He spoke of her often.

He traveled to Reno in 2005 for the 56th Annual Reunion of the 41st Infantry Division where he connected up with some old friends.

A stroke in February of 2012 took his eyesight to the point where he could no longer drive. This was so hard for him because he lost his ability to visit his friends every day and be independent.

Gale is preceded in death by his brother Donald, wife of 50 years, Arleen, ex-wife Avis and two sons, Butch and Greg. He is survived by his sons Edward, Donald, Gary (Jessie), Richard (Kathy), ten grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. Gale is also survived by sister La Vonne and half-sisters Lydia and Nina and half-brother Waldo.

He passed, gently, October 15, 2013 with family by his side. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.