Billy R. Cook

Billy R. Cook, 77, of Davenport died peacefully on Sunday, February 14, 2010 at his home with his family by his side after a brief battle with cancer. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Thursday, February 18, 2010 at Risen Christ Lutheran Church in Davenport. Visitation will be from 4-7 PM Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at the Runge Mortuary. Burial will be in Davenport Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Risen Christ Lutheran Church or to the Honor Flight Program.

Billy was born July 10, 1932 in Holdenville, OK the son of Walter and Alice (Cogburn) Cook. He was united in marriage to Donna J. Knadle on June 27, 1954 in Vienna, South Dakota.

He was a veteran of the United States Air Force serving during the Korean Conflict.

Prior to his retirement in 1992 he worked for John Deere for 26 years.

Bill was a Mason for 48 years and was also a member of the Mohassen Grotto and Model T Patrol and Risen Christ Lutheran Church.

Bill, Donna and family started camping in 1967 in a fold-down camper and in later years moved up to a Motor Home until they quit camping in 2008. They square-danced and belonged to numerous Square Dance and Camping Clubs. They met and still have many good friends from their camping and square dancing days.

“Cookie” had a great sense of humor and he enjoyed giving people a “hard time.” Upon meeting someone, he never forgot his or her name or face.

The most important thing to Bill was always his family. He is survived by his wife of 55 wonderful years, Donna, Davenport; daughters Debbie (Barry) VanBlaricom, Tammy (Jerry) Mickelson, son, Jeff (Connie) Cook, granddaughters, Cheryl (Adam) Winger, Andrea Mickelson and his “3 Redneck Grandsons”, Andy (Leslee) Cook, Doug Cook and Michael VanBlaricom and the true “Apples of his Eye”, great grandsons, Joshua and Nathan Winger and a much awaited great granddaughter Winger due in March. He is also survived by a brother, James Cook , sister, Eva Ferguson, and sister-in-law Fran Cook, all of Holdenville, OK, along with numerous nieces and nephews and a lifelong friend, Ted Thompson.

His parents, his brother, Bob and a brother-in-law, David Ferguson, preceded Bill in death.