Lewis A Cook
(June 28, 1937 – June 15, 2016)
Visitation will be from 1:00-3:00 p.m. Sunday, June 19, 2016 in Howe and Yockey Funeral Home, Shelbyville, IL with a brief service of remembrance at 3:00 p.m. Graveside services will follow in Glenwood Cemetery, Shelbyville, IL with Rev. Greg Breeden officiating. A memorial fund has been established.
Lewis was born on June 28, 1937 to Hubert L. Cook and Martha P. (Bork) Cook of Dalton City, IL. He graduated from Shelbyville High School in 1955 and married Judith Blankenship of Shelbyville, IL on July 27, 1958. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2008.
Louie and Judy moved to eastside Decatur in 1965. He first farmed on the family farm and then became a tool and die maker. After working in a few machine shops, he worked for Borg-Warner Automotive for more than 30 years in Decatur, Dixon, and Shelbyville, IL. Louie and Judy lived in Amboy, IL for five years and then returned to rural Shelbyville where he worked for Warner-Ishi (IHI Turbo). After retiring in 1999, he built and ran his own machining business, Lake City Machine and Tool, in Shelbyville until 2006. He and Judy moved to Forsyth, IL in 2007. After Judy’s death in 2012, Louie moved to his own home in Oconto Falls, WI to be near his daughter and her family. Louie was always active in church, gardening, and helping others, and he was a meticulous craftsman and builder. He enjoyed model railroading and loved things that were mechanical. Louie could fix practically anything. He designed his own homes and many special tools. Most importantly, he loved the Lord Jesus Christ, and that showed in his life.
Survivors include his daughter, Robin (Neil) Hamel of Oconto Falls, WI; his son, Phillip (Rebecca) Cook of San Antonio, TX; grandchildren, Ariel (Geoff) Johns of Green Bay, WI, Rachel (Bimal) Rai of Spokane, WA, Caleb and David Hamel of Oconto Falls, WI and Collin Cook and Laurie Smith of Texas; and four great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters, Joanne (Don) Apple of Shelbyville, IL, Alice (Harold) Ferguson of Eaton, OH, and Marty (Craig) Dahlquist of Springfield, IL; brother-in-law, Richard Carruthers of Ramsey, IL; sister-in-law, Joyce Blankenship of Salem , OH; and nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Judy; brother, David F. Cook; and his in-laws, Rosalind Carruthers, Gerald, Kenneth, Inge, and William Blankenship, and Violet and James “Pete” Boaz.
The family would like to thank Louie’s caregivers and hospice service for their care during his last months. Send condolences at www.howeandyockey.com