Rev. Dennis Lee Cook

Good and Faithful Servant

On Friday, January 29th, our loving husband, father, Pop Pop, brother, friend and Pastor finally made it home….

Dennis, or Pop Pop, as he was better known, was born on September 5, 1946 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He spent his growing up years on a farm in rural Minnesota with his parents, Ralph and Jean, sisters, Darlene and Cathy, and his brother, Tim. He grew up working on the farm and had much to tell from his experiences. He often told stories of hitting golf balls in the pasture when he was young and grew to love the game of golf. He graduated from Hastings High School and Winona State University. While at Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary, he met his beloved, Shirley Jean Seppi. Upon their first meeting, he impressed her by saying, “If I knew you were this tall, I would’ve worn my stilts!” She married him in spite of that statement and they enjoyed 45 years of deep love and commitment. They shared many joys raising Jennifer and Jonathan and then welcomed son in law, Ben, daughter in law, Yelena, and seven grandchildren, Austin, Parker, Mckenna, Israel, Emmanuel, Selah, and Zion to complete their family.

Pop Pop had a fondness for many things including Duke Basketball games, the latest technology, watching golf, playing golf, talking about golf, Krispy Kreme doughnuts, McDonalds fish sandwiches, IHOP, Waffle House, fixing anything with duct tape, making his famous chocolate chip pancakes, spending time with his grandchildren, and most importantly his love for Jesus.

Pop Pop’s incredible love for Jesus is what he is best known and remembered for. He was a dedicated shepherd for 43 years and served congregations in Louisville Kentucky, Brookville Indiana, Cokato Minnesota, Durham North Carolina, and Fayetteville North Carolina. His love for people was evident. He was a humble and patient pastor. He loved teaching people and had a special affection for children and youth. His office was filled with cards, pictures, and mementos that people had given to express their love and appreciation for him.

In the last two years, life changed a lot for Pop Pop as his battle with ALS began to win, but through it all his love for God and his family carried him through. He told us at the end that we were to “not grieve as those without hope” because he knew that God would finish what he started in his life and that we would all see each other again. He will be dearly missed…but we are thankful that he is in a place where he will hear….”well done, my good and faithful servant…” And that is what he was…a faithful servant.

We love you Pop Pop…

A memorial service to celebrate the life and ministry of Dennis Cook will be held on Saturday, February 13th at 2 p.m. at Christus Victor Lutheran Church, 1201 Hope Mills Road, Fayetteville, NC 28304 with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the ALSA, Jim “Catfish” Hunter Chapter, 4 N. Blount St., Suite 200, Raleigh NC 27601 or Lower Cape Fear Hospice and Lifecare Center, 1414 Physicians Dr., Wilmington NC 28401.

Services lovingly entrusted to Reeves Funeral Home.