1936
Robert
2018
Robert Leslie Cook
November 24, 1936 — July 30, 2018
After nearly 32 years of marriage to his beloved wife, Helen, Robert L. Cook, 81, of Scotts died July 30. Robert passed at Rose Arbor Hospice, where his wife had died six days before.
Robert was born and raised in Allegan. He served in the Marines between 1957-1960. He continued to support the Marines' mission as commandant of the Kalamazoo Detachment of the Marine Corps League and by mentoring youth in the Young Marines of Kalamazoo. Robert helped create that city's Rose Park Veteran's Memorial.
He attended school in Allegan, at Culver (Ind.) Military Academy and Western Michigan University. He worked in the packaging industry for 58 years and started several businesses. He was co-founder of Arvco Container Corporation, from where he retired in 2003 as specialty packaging manager. He then formed his most recent business, Speciality Packaging, and worked there until his death. He promoted the packaging industry by mentoring and developing a scholarship endowment at Michigan State University School of Packaging.
He volunteered countless hours at the Veteran Affairs Medical Hospital, Meals on Wheels and Toys for Tots. He was past president of Jaycees, charter president of Kalamazoo Sunrise Rotary, longtime member of Kalamazoo Rotary Club and a member of Allegan Elks, Portage Eagles, Red Arrow VFW and Delton Moose. An avid golfer, Robert was a member of Indian Run Golf Club and Riverside Country Club.
He is survived by daughters Sally (Carl) Barber of Plainwell; Carrie (John) Hine of Wayland; Rhonda (Steve) Broekema of Schoolcraft; Patti (Scott) Sampley of Kalamazoo; and Robin (Brian) Wicker of St. Michael, Minn.; 12 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren and several beloved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Robert B. Cook and Donna (Pierce) Cook; sisters Barbara Jean Gilpin and Patricia Whitney; brothers-in-law, Dick Gilpin and George Whitney; and son-in-law Mike Irwin.
A military burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Aug. 6 at Fort Custer National Cemetery. A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Aug. 7 at Calvary Bible Church, 855 S. Drake Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49009, with a visitation one hour before. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given to the Young Marines of Kalamazoo or VA Medical Hospital Palliative Care Unit. Arrangements by Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Memorial Chapel. Please visit Robert personalized web page at www.langelands.com to sign the online guest book or leave messages for the family.
15501 Dickman Rd.
Augusta, MI, US, 49012
855 S. Drake Rd.
Kalamazoo, MI, US, 49009
855 S. Drake Rd.
Kalamazoo, MI, US, 49009
Robert was born and raised in Allegan. He served in the Marines between 1957-1960. He continued to support the Marines' mission as commandant of the Kalamazoo Detachment of the Marine Corps League and by mentoring youth in the Young Marines of Kalamazoo. Robert helped create that city's Rose Park Veteran's Memorial.
He attended school in Allegan, at Culver (Ind.) Military Academy and Western Michigan University. He worked in the packaging industry for 58 years and started several businesses. He was co-founder of Arvco Container Corporation, from where he retired in 2003 as specialty packaging manager. He then formed his most recent business, Speciality Packaging, and worked there until his death. He promoted the packaging industry by mentoring and developing a scholarship endowment at Michigan State University School of Packaging.
He volunteered countless hours at the Veteran Affairs Medical Hospital, Meals on Wheels and Toys for Tots. He was past president of Jaycees, charter president of Kalamazoo Sunrise Rotary, longtime member of Kalamazoo Rotary Club and a member of Allegan Elks, Portage Eagles, Red Arrow VFW and Delton Moose. An avid golfer, Robert was a member of Indian Run Golf Club and Riverside Country Club.
He is survived by daughters Sally (Carl) Barber of Plainwell; Carrie (John) Hine of Wayland; Rhonda (Steve) Broekema of Schoolcraft; Patti (Scott) Sampley of Kalamazoo; and Robin (Brian) Wicker of St. Michael, Minn.; 12 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren and several beloved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Robert B. Cook and Donna (Pierce) Cook; sisters Barbara Jean Gilpin and Patricia Whitney; brothers-in-law, Dick Gilpin and George Whitney; and son-in-law Mike Irwin.
A military burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Aug. 6 at Fort Custer National Cemetery. A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Aug. 7 at Calvary Bible Church, 855 S. Drake Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49009, with a visitation one hour before. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given to the Young Marines of Kalamazoo or VA Medical Hospital Palliative Care Unit. Arrangements by Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Memorial Chapel. Please visit Robert personalized web page at www.langelands.com to sign the online guest book or leave messages for the family.
Graveside Service
AUG 6. 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Ft. Custer National Cemetery15501 Dickman Rd.
Augusta, MI, US, 49012
Visitation
AUG 7. 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Calvary Bible Church855 S. Drake Rd.
Kalamazoo, MI, US, 49009
Memorial Service
AUG 7. 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Calvary Bible Church855 S. Drake Rd.
Kalamazoo, MI, US, 49009
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