Carol L. Cook Kaufman's Obituary
Carol L. Cook Kaufman, 97, of Clinton, passed away Monday, November 14, 2022 at the Alverno.
Memorial Services will be 2:00 PM, Friday, November 18, 2022 at the Clinton Chapel of the Snell-Zornig Funeral Home. A visitation will be held from 1:00pm to the service time at the funeral home.
Carol L. Cook was born on December 6, 1924 in Miles, Iowa, the daughter of Carleton and Leona (Struve) Cook. She was a graduate of Miles High School and was the last surviving member of the class of 1941. She graduated from State Teachers College (UNI). She married Louis Kaufman on July 11, 1975 in Rockford, Illinois.
Carol began her teaching career at Alburnett, Iowa. For 40 years she taught sixth graders in the Clinton Community School District at Hawthorne Elementary and Washington Middle School. Carol was described by many of her former students as their favorite teacher. She often would be outside participating in recess by playing sports with her students. Carol took special interest in her students and provided them with learning experiences beyond the classroom. She supported her students by attending sporting events, musicals, and drama events throughout their middle and high school years, directed student painting of the Christmas window displays at Hawthorne School, and conducted an end of the year field trip to her family farm in Miles.
She and her husband Lou enjoyed traveling across the United States to visit family. Carol and her husband had a large vegetable garden that they enjoyed sharing with their neighbors. She also enjoyed sewing and would often be repairing clothes for her friends and relatives. She was a member of the Clinton First United Methodist Church, Eastern Star, and the Christian Women?s Club where she served on the board several years.
Carol is survived by her husband Louis of Camanche; three nieces, Trinda (John) Smith, Karen (Jim) Bewley, and Sara (Marvin) Hankemeier; and one nephew, Chad (Pam) DeVore. She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Keith Cook, and Kenneth Cook; two sisters, Aleon DeVore, and Leola Conkling; two nephews, David and Dean Cook; and one niece, Leona Cook.
In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to the Clinton First United Methodist Church or the Clinton YWCA.
What’s your fondest memory of Carol?
What’s a lesson you learned from Carol?
Share a story where Carol's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Carol you’ll never forget.
How did Carol make you smile?