Obituary for Kennith Orvie Cooke

Kennith Orvie Cooke, 87, passed away on April 10, 2023 at the Good Neighbor Home in Manchester, Iowa after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born August 15, 1935, in Ruthven, Iowa, the son of Vincent and Mable (Nelson) Cooke. Ken attended school in Emmetsburg, Iowa.

On September 9, 1961 Ken was united in marriage to Mary Jeanette Leonard at St. Mary’s Catholic church in Emmetsburg, Iowa. They celebrated 60 years together. They farmed for many years in Spencer, Elma, and then Cresco, Iowa. He worked for Skelgas in Cresco and then Manchester, Iowa. The farming bug later took him back to farming by the Backbone State Park in Strawberry Point, Iowa and being an owner operator of Cooke Milk Hauling. Ken loved spending time with his family, being on the ranch where he could watch over the chickens and ducks, watching the horses run across the pasture, and watching his favorite pets, Katrina and Betsie, run around to their heart’s content. He also enjoyed watching westerns, the RFD channel, and the television evangelist David Jeremiah. He enjoyed horseback riding, motorcycle riding, camping, fishing, snowbirding to Arizona and Texas, trips to Cheyenne, Wyoming and getting the opportunity to socialize and meet new people. He was very proud of being in the US Navy where he served on the USS Iowa battleship and then on the Newport News heavy carrier, traveling the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, and visiting many interesting ports.

Survivors include his four children, Danny (Carmen) Cooke of Strawberry Point, Kelly (Dan) Streicher of Waverly, Randy (Krista) Cooke of Cheyenne, Wyoming, and John (Julie) Cooke of Ryan; eleven grandchildren, Kyle Cooke, Angel (Sid) McNulty, Ashley (Scott) Hill, Casey (Kassie) Cooke, Justin Cooke (Jenna), Cody (Mandy) Cooke, Alisha Cooke, Morgan (Eric) Ackerson, Keshia Cooke (Austin), Taylor (Brody) Weston, Kayla Cooke (Ryan); 15 great-grandchildren; Barrett and Brylee Cooke, Annabelle and Will McNulty, Gryphon, Mason, and Rory Ackerson, Chloe Weston, Jace, Kenadi, and Saylor Hill, Eli and Wyatt Cooke, Beckett and Hayden Majeres; sisters, Marjorie (Len) Olson of Holmes, Wisconsin, Charlotte Bedow of Le Roy, Minnesota, Nancy Shyrock of Graettinger, Iowa, Joy (Jon) Peterson of Lead Hill, Arkansas, Louise Anderson of Graettinger, Iowa, brother; Harry Cooke of Ruthven, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Vance and Clarence Cooke; two sisters, Edie Staver and Helen Hargrave.

A heartfelt thank you to those special employees working in the north wing at the Good Neighbor Home for their loving care of Ken during his stay. A private family ceremony is planned for May 6, 2023.