Harvey "Butch" Cook

Butch was born to Barbara Smith in Cloquet, Minnesota, just months after his birth father passed away. Barbara soon met the next great love of her life, Gerald Cook, whom she married shortly thereafter. Gerald formally adopted Barbara’s three children, and together they welcomed three more. The family of eight settled into a home on the end of Lawrence Road, in the close-knit Hilltop neighborhood, surrounded by the woods of northern Minnesota.

As a young man, Butch was adventurous and free-spirited. He found his own fun and built enduring friendships. He met his first wife, Sherry, in high school, and they married in 1979. Together they raised three children and spent a decade on eight wild acres in rural Foxboro, Wisconsin, before chasing better opportunities to Green Bay. Butch and Sherry's marriage ended in 2003, and after some time to heal, they were able to build a warm friendship that persisted to today.

Butch met and began a twenty-year romance with his second wife, Kay, whom he loved and cared for until her death in 2022. After her passing, Butch moved back to Minnesota to be closer to family.

A man shaped by his time and region, Butch loved the outdoors—hunting, fishing, and spending time with his beloved dogs, including Joey, Whitney, Cassie, and Floki. He was an avid reader who enjoyed endless hours in the sun with his many books. He deeply loved his family, and persevered through struggles in his personal relationships. In his later years, he lived in a supportive senior living community, where he was well cared for and treated with dignity.

Butch was preceded in death by his wife Kay Cook (née Davis); his birth father Harvey Clarence Smith; his adoptive father Gerald Cook; his mother Barbara Cook (née Lamirande); and his sister Laurie Sparks (née Cook).

He is survived by his children Gerald (Mana) Cook, Nicole (Yakov) Grinberg, and Sean (Natalie) Cook; his grandchildren Maya Cook and Helio Grinberg; and his siblings Stephanie, Scott, Thomas, and Patrick.

Butch will be remembered for his independence, his off-color joy, and his maverick spirit.

A Celebration of Butch's Life will be held Saturday, February 14, 2026 at 12:00 pm, with Visitation one hour prior to service, from 11:00 am - 12:00 pm at Wulff Woodbury Funeral Home, 2195 Woodlane Dr., Woodbury, MN, 55125. A luncheon will immediately follow.