Arthur Cook

Arthur Russell Cook of Lake Forest, CA passed away January 16, 2018 after a short, sudden illness. Born November 1, 1926 In Monango, ND, Art spent his youth on the family farm rambling about with cats Prowler and Bennie, dog Bonnie, and draft horses Snookie and Bosco. In his rambles he collected arrowheads, axe heads, and bounties on ground squirrels and animal bones. His education as future teacher began in a one room school with students whose first language was not English.

Since there was no local high school, Art boarded in the county seat with his Aunt and graduated from Ellendale High School in 1944. Although he was of an age to serve in WWII, he did not due to an unfortunate incident involving a hatchet, kindling for a wood stove, and another student that severed his right index finger. Art went on to graduate from the State Normal and Industrial College at Ellendale, ND with a B.S. in Education in 1949. From there he went on to teach English, Social Studies, and coach drama at Lidgerwood High School in Lidgerwood, ND.

Despite the missing finger Art was drafted in 1951 by the US Army for service in the Korean War in the 10th Infantry Division. During that time Art traveled to Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong. Military brass encouraged Art to apply for officer candidate school, but he turned them down preferring to remain a corporal in the 2nd Engineer Special Brigade of the 532 Regiment. While in Korea, Art was travelling on a troop train to the front when the military police stopped the train with orders to escort him from it. From that point on he taught the humanities and social sciences in the Regimental Troop Improvement Program helping many soldiers achieve 8th grade level competencies or their GEDs.

Art’s parents valued education as a way to a better life. Following his military service, Art took advantage of the GI bill and received a Master’s degree in history with a concentration in Asian Studies from the University of Colorado. Art migrated to Riverside California in 1955 to teach world geography at Jurupa Junior High School. He had a 32 year career in the Riverside Unified School District as a teacher, librarian, and administrator before retiring and working part-time on emeritus status. His last full time position was librarian at Riverside Polytechnic High School.

Early in his teaching career, Art met Nancy Lee Markland, a registered nurse from Vinton, IA working at Riverside Community Hospital, through mutual friends. They married on December 15, 1956 and raised two children, Deborah and Kevin. Upon retirement, Art and Nancy moved to the Hemet-San Jacinto area for a time. Following Nancy’s stroke in 2014 they moved to Freedom Village in Lake Forest, CA to be closer to their son, Kevin and daughter-in-law Kathi.

Art is survived by his wife Nancy, son Kevin and daughter-in-law Kathi of Mission Viejo, CA, daughter Deborah Cook and son-in-law Jung Choi of Atlanta, GA and granddaughter Hannah Choi of Athens, GA.

In place of flowers the family requests that memorial contributions in Art’s name be given to the Hemet San Jacinto Valley VFW Post 2266, where Art was a member and chapter officer or to a local public library.