Richard Cook's Obituary
Richard E. Cook, 79, of Clinton, died Friday, April 9, 2010 at Mercy Medical Center, North Campus, Clinton.
A Memorial Gathering will be from 4:00-7:00pm Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at the Clinton Chapel Snell-Zornig Funeral Homes and Crematory.
Richard Erwin Cook was born on January 2, 1931 in Pueblo, Colorado the son of Merriam and Bertha (Gwin) Cook. He married Ruth Rost on February 4, 1955 in Orange, Texas, to whom he was devoted to for over 55 years. Richard was a 1949 graduate of Pueblo Central High School. He then graduated from Yale University in 1953 and later received his MBA at St. Ambrose in 1987.
Richard was employed with DuPont for over 40 years retiring in 1994. Anyone who knew Dick, knew he loved his family, and fishing in Colorado a close second. After retiring from DuPont, Dick taught classes at Clinton Community College for several years. Countless hours were spent volunteering for RSVP and SCORE helping prepare taxes and assisting seniors with Medicare advice. Dick set the standard for a gentleman and a scholar. “I don’t have time” or “I can’t help” were not in his vocabulary. Kindness and patience were hallmarks of Dick’s existence. He will be greatly missed by family, friends and the hundreds of others whom he helped through his many years of volunteering. Richard is survived by his wife: Ruth of Clinton; one daughter: Susan Christine (Stephen) Hawkins of Richmond, Virginia; two sons: David (Karen Houston) Cook of Clinton, Iowa; and John (Lora) Cook of Appleton, Wisconsin; 10 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren; one brother: Dr. Donald (Elsie) Cook of Greeley, Colorado and several nieces and nephews. Richard was preceded in death by his parents, and one daughter: Carolyn. The family requests that memorials be made to RSVP.
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