James Cook
September 20, 1937 – February 5, 2022
James Cook, age 84, passed away on Saturday, February 5, 2022, at his home in Boerne, Texas, with his wife and family at his side. He fought a hard battle with lung and brain cancer.
He leaves his wife of almost 22 years, Eleanor (Eichholz) Cook; his daughters, Rhonda Gross, Shawncey Cook, Peggy (Michael) Day, Heidi (Mark) Pitt and Jamie Cook; his son, Jim (Sally) Cook; step-children Kim Tilley, Kathryn (Craig) Engleman, Donald (Catherine) Downard, Dori (Rick) Stone, Mary Engel (Joe) Drnach and Chris Davis; sister Joanne Nicholson; sisters-in-law Rose Goetz, Peggy (Guy) Driskell, Bonnie (Stephen) Ransleben; brother-in-law Nicholas (Kathy) Eichholz; 38 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren.
Jim was predeceased by his parents; sisters Airetta Ellis and Helen Damian; brothers Norman, Oscar, Earl and Robert (his twin brother) Cook; sisters-in-law Margaret and Iris Cook, Ruth Brown and Dianne Andrews; brothers-in-law William Ellis, Gus Damian, Bob Nicholson, T.D. Brown and Jim Goetz; step-son Kevin Downard; step-daughter Barbara Ray Fennick; grandson Miles Tiller; and step-grandson David Engel.
Born in Detroit, Michigan, on September 20, 1937, in the family home, Jim was the (twin) son of Oscar and Gertrude (Keeling) Cook. He was raised in Detroit and grew up with the family frequently going to Ford Field for baseball games. Jim joined the Air Force in 1955, served in the Vietnam War in 1968 as a radar technician. As staff sergeant with 13 years of service, Jim left the Air Force.
He moved his family to Florida where he worked for the United States Post Office. In 1971, he moved back to his home state of Michigan. Jim worked as an operator mechanic at the Midland Waste Water Treatment Plant for 23 years until his retirement in 1994.
On a vacation to Texas to visit his daughters, he met Eleanor (Elly). Jim and Elly later married and split their time between their homes in Sanford, Michigan, and Boerne, Texas.
Through the years, his hobbies were building radios and televisions, pitching horseshoes and bowling. In his later years, Jim enjoyed woodworking and antique cars.
Jim’s pride and joy was his 1969 Cadillac. He was a member of several car clubs which included Cars of the Past Touring Club, Central Michigan Old Car Club, National Cadillac LaSalle Club, Alamo Cadillac LaSalle Club, Fredericksburg Vintage Car Club and the National Vintage Car Club. Jim also was a member of the Gaddis Memorial United Methodist Church.
Jim enjoyed being with family and friends. He was a quiet man who wore his heart on his shirt sleeve. He will be missed dearly by all of those who were blessed to have known him.
Pallbearers for Jim’s service will be Jim Cook, Mike Day, Brandon Day, Donald Downard, Craig Engleman and Rick Stone.
A special thank you to Heart to Heart Hospice, Shelby, Art, Meka and Mamie.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, February 15, at Schaetter’s Funeral Home, 554 Roosevelt Ave., Comfort, Texas.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, February 16, at Gaddis Memorial United Methodist Church, 141 Highway 87, Comfort, Texas.
Memorial gifts may be made to Gaddis United Methodist Church, Comfort V.F.D, Boerne V.F.D or a charity of your choice.
Expressions of sympathy may be sent at www.schaetter.com. Funeral arrangements under the direction of the Schaetter Funeral Home.
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