Helen M. Cook

COOK, Helen M. Kalamazoo, MI
Formerly of Allegan, MI Helen went to be with the Lord peacefully surrounded by her seven children on Monday, December 13, 2010. Helen was born to Ernest and Vera Hagerman in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan on June 17, 1915. She married Charles Cook, an oil businessman. They later moved to Allegan in 1940 when the oil fields opened up in that part of Michigan. Helen was very active in many areas involving children and First Baptist Church in Allegan. She was a Sunday school teacher and Director of Vacation Bible School at First Baptist Church in Allegan and served on the School Board of Hudson Corners School. She was also a Sunday school teacher at Bethel Baptist Church in Kalamazoo. However, her most notable role was rearing her seven children, much of it after the early death of her husband in 1953. In 1957, Helen moved her family to Kalamazoo to give them additional education opportunities. She was employed as a bridal consultant for several years, then as a secretary at the Kalamazoo State Hospital from which she retired in 1977. Her greatest joy was sharing in the lives of her children, her sixteen grandchildren, and her twenty-seven great-grandchildren. She has been an exemplary role model as a mother, sister, mother-in-law, sister-in law and grandmother. Helen was preceded by her husband, Charles, and daughter, Janet Lee. She is survived by her children, Nancy Clair of Fort Myers, FL, Carole Boyd of Spotsylvania, VA, Charlene Jon Anderson of Macatawa, Elaine Dallas Warrum of Kalamazoo, David Cook of Holland, Lynne Senne of Kalamazoo and Julie Thom Bowles of Portage. She also leaves her sister, Mavis Querbach of Kalamazoo and her brother, Ernest Hagerman of Allegan. Visitation will be 2-4 and 6-8pm Thursday at Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Westside Chapel, 3926 S. 9th Street. Private burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Allegan Cemetery. Memorial services celebrating Helen's life will be held 1:00 Friday afternoon at the Oakwood Bible Church, 4100 Oakland Drive with Pastors Steve Johnson and Maynard Belt officiating. Because of her love for her children, memorials may be made in memory of Helen to Sylvia's Place, PO Box 13, Allegan, MI 49010. Please visit www.langelands.com to sign Helen's online guestbook or leave a condolence to her family. 269343-1508.