Visitation will be at Holy Rosary on Friday, May 3, 2019 from 5-7pm, Rosary at 7pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Saturday, May 4, 2019 at 10am also at Holy Rosary. Interment will follow at Englewood Cemetery, Clinton, Missouri. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Holy Rosary School and may be left in care of the funeral home.
Robert “Bob” John Cook, 90, passed away on May 1, 2019. He was born in Montrose, MO on August 2, 1928. Bob spent his early years on the family farm working with his father and four brothers. He began dating the love of his life, Mary Virginia “Ginnie” Stout, in the summer of 1950. They were engaged in 1951 while he was on leave from basic training. Bob was drafted into the U.S. Army and served from February 8, 1951 to November 8, 1952. He served in Korea working as a large machine operator advancing to Sergeant First Class. After returning from Korea, Bob and Ginnie wed on May 24, 1952 and settled in Clinton, MO where Ginnie currently resides.
Bob opened a gas station with his brother, Gene, in 1953. In 1958, he purchased the Massey Ferguson dealership in partnership with his father, Stephen, creating Henry County Farm and Tire Supply. The business grew into what is now Cook Tractor Parts and Cook Auction Company in Clinton, MO and Cook Tractor Company in Germantown, IL. Bob’s entrepreneurial spirit led him into many aspects of the agricultural field including farming, building and operating a grain elevator and fertilizer business, and selling new and used farm equipment and parts. HIs work took him to farm equipment sales creating a love of traveling and exploring new parts of the country. He also invented and patented a magnetic filter for John Deere tractors. He was recognized for his achievements by the Clinton Chamber of Commerce being awarded the Agricultural Person of the Year in 2003. In 1984, the Missouri Chamber of Commerce awarded him the Agribusiness Pacesetter Award.
Faith and family were always important to Bob leading to his active involvement in his local parish, Holy Rosary Catholic Church. He was instrumental in the establishment of the first Catholic school at Holy Rosary in 1962 where all of his 15 children and many grandchildren attended and great-grandchildren currently attend. Bob was a lifelong member of the Knights of Columbus earning his Fourth Degree. First joining the Montrose Knights of Columbus, Bob led the re-chartering of the Clinton chapter. In 2015, he was presented an Award of Appreciation in recognition of distinguished and unselfish service.
As a young boy, Bob enjoyed playing baseball with his brothers and local town teams. As time went on, he especially enjoyed playing with his cousins, children, nieces, and nephews at family reunions. Another pastime he enjoyed with his family was playing cards. Everyone looked forward to Bob’s card games at the holidays. Travel wasn’t just for work as he also enjoyed vacations with his family to California, Canada, and Europe. In retirement Bob enjoyed spending time with his grandkids. His grandkids will always remember Christmas celebrations with Grandpa playing Santa. Bob developed a love for growing flowers from his father and enjoyed experimenting with species that were not native to the Midwest. He especially enjoyed growing daylilies and roses and this tradition continues today as many of his children and friends enjoy his daylilies in their yards.
Along with his spouse, Ginnie, Bob is survived by his fifteen children: Ron (Helen), John (Mary), Jim (Jackie) all of Clinton, Laraine (Craig) George of Eureka, MO, Linda (Scott) Christy, Clinton, Greg (Norma), Germantown, IL, Rita (John) Coulter, Edwardsville, IL, Charles (Amy), Springfield, MO, Stan (Anita) and Karen (Roy) Qualls, Clinton, Scott (Jodi), Pat, and Steve of Kansas City, MO, Theresa (Doug) Hungsberger, Lawrence, KS and Carl (Stephanie), Germantown, IL; thirty-eight grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Stephen and Loretta Cook, and his four brothers, Gene Cook, Ralph Cook, Cecil Cook and Bill Cook and one great-grandson, Joseph Cook.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Holy Rosary Catholic School or Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 410 E. Wilson, Street, Clinton, MO.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Vansant-Mills Funeral Home, Clinton, Missouri.
