SPARTA-James “Jim” Cook and his twin brother Jack were born on February 1, 1936 in Faribault, Minnesota to Fred and Ethel Losie Cook. Throughout his early childhood, Jim and his siblings experienced American history unfolding all around them. From being locked out on a cold porch in December, so that his mom and dad could hear about the attack on Pearl Harbor, to seeing the battered ships from the Pacific war coming into drydock where his father worked, Jim and family were part of the millions who pulled together and sacrificed for the good of the nation.
Returning to Wisconsin, the family lived in New Amsterdam outside of Holmen and eventually in Warrens, just north of Tomah. Graduating in 1954 from Tomah High School, Jim entered military service, being trained as a machine gunner. He was sent to Alaska and spent his time of service there. His stories of that period of his life are quite humorous but are too much to relate here.
In the late 1950’s, he met his future wife, Joan Schiller, while he was beginning his lifetime career with the Wisconsin D.O.T. while working on Hwy 162 north of Bangor. Joan was bringing the cows home along the road, and Jim honked a greeting, unfortunately scattering the herd. Things worked out, however, as they became a couple and were married at the Burr Oak Evangelical Lutheran Church in July of 1962.
Jim and Joan moved to Sparta in 1964, Mom to teach and Dad to continue working on the state roadways in the coulee region. Their son Joe was born in November of 1968. From the beginning, I had a ring-side-seat and witnessed their life of service and commitment to others.
In 1972, Jim started Boy Scout Troop #7 with Mr. Burke and Mr. Liska and eventually others, and spent the next twenty years helping young men achieve their badges and ranks, culminating for the greater majority in the rank of Eagle. Dad would spend one of his three weeks of yearly vacation at Camp Decorah, sleeping in a tent, leading discussions and badge classes, while constantly herding “his men” who were as squirrely as cats.
During the early years of the 1980’s, Dad took on protecting the sculptures from the ravages of winter weather of what today is known as the Wegner Grotto, but is still called by many the “Glass Church”. He constructed tent-like structures in his shop and together we would assemble and disassemble these protective coverings as the seasons changed. I would grumble; he would laugh. Jim loved the Grotto and spent a lot of time there with his pals Gerald Kast and Joe Hemmerich over the next decades, resurrecting the structures from certain decay.
Together with Joe Kawatski, Dan Borgwardt, Gerrald Kast and Al Jenkins, he helped construct challenge courses throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota, forming a business known as “Unlimited Solutions”. The challenge sometimes wasn’t about the heights involved, but rather who left what tool where.
Jim’s church life was also active and important to him over the years. He served faithfully as church president, head of buildings and grounds and on a team of “builders” at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sparta, working with others to bring glory to God. The old adage of “many hands make light work” applied to his service during those times.
When it was time to help fix up the Brackett Valley Schoolhouse north of Sparta, another partner-friendship developed and continued, that being with Reinhard Mueller and again with Gerald Kast. From that time forward, many building projects–specifically bridges– would come their way and include Al Jenkins and Kerry Schumann, the rest of the team to complete the group known as the “Shovelmen”. Together this group of builders brought their own unique gifts to help beautify their town for the enjoyment of others. As Dad would always say, it was a team effort, and they were helped along the way by so many folks–fellow Spartans in making our community a better place.
Over the past couple of years as time began to catch up with him, Dad became good friends with many of our neighbors in the Amish community. They, too, called him “Grandpa Jim”. He enjoyed driving and visiting with them so very much.
Regarding our family life with Grandpa Jim, one couldn’t ask for a better family support system. His daily trips to pick up Grayson and Finley from St. John’s School,the mandatory trip for ice cream every Wednesday, and the quiz sessions on the way home to the farm as to what direction was north, what type of tree is that, and the like have impacted their memories of him forever. He was an unshakable support for me and Katie and our children. When we grill brats, take his long-used hammer off the peg for a project, and simply drive along Hwy 162, we will think of him and our shared history.
Jim was so thankful for his decades-long friendships at work, in scouting, at church, most recently with the “Shovelmen”, and of course his daily dining experiences at the Family Restaurant or a having a cup of coffee at Ginny’s.
Rest easy now : “You’ve fought the good fight, you have finished the race, you have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7-8
A Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, June 25, 2024, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Sparta, with Pastor Josh Buzbee officiating. Burial with full military honors, provided by VFW Post 2112 and American Legion Post 100, will be at Burns Cemetery in Bangor. A luncheon will follow at Country Reflections north of Sparta.
A visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Monday, June 24, 2024, at Trinity Lutheran Church, from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, at the church.
Online condolences may be offered at www.schanhoferfh.com. Lanham-Schanhofer Funeral Home and Cremation, Sparta, is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.
Lanham-Schanhofer Funeral Home and Cremation
