Robert L. Cook Sr.

Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend Robert “Bob” Cook, Sr. passed away on December 3, 2019 at home with his family. He was born on January 6, 1931 to Hiawatha Denton and Virgil Cook in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He married his love Verna Roseborough on June 29, 1957. Bob and Verna have two sons, Robert (Sharon) and Rollin (Pam), seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Bob is preceded in death by both his parents and brothers Virgil Jr. and William.

Bob served honorably in the Korean War (1950-53) as a member of the Army 25th Infantry Division where he earned two Bronze Stars for his valor during combat. He wasn’t one to brag about such things and really only felt like he was performing his duties as a soldier. In fact, the recollections of these heroic episodes were typically only shared to make a point to someone he was encouraging to overcome their own challenges.

Bob had an incredible career as a Master plumber in which he was not only known for his remarkable skills, but more importantly his ability to teach and mentor new apprentices. He was plant supervisor at Boise Homes back in the 1970s, where he had the opportunity to mentor many young men and women including one of his sons. He also worked with many other organizations, but felt most at home working with the family known as Manwill Plumbing. He remained in touch with this work family and enjoyed how they kept in touch well after his retirement.

Bob loved road trips and knew just about every major highway across this great nation. He preferred to drive across country rather than fly. He took his family on many road trips to visit family in Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Illinois, California and Utah. He could drive for hours and remember any highway he ever traveled with details as to when he last drove through the area and where he was headed. Bob also enjoyed listening and singing to his favorite music including Charlie Pride, Webb Pierce, Johnny Cash and just about anything that was classic country or gospel.

Bob loved the outdoors, camping, fishing and hunting, especially if it included the gathering of his family. He loved to deer hunt with his family and close friends at Flaming Gorge and in his later years loved to simply sit on Robert and Sharon’s porch in Manila, drink coffee and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Our family has great memories of our hunts together and the very best of those memories were made with our dad and grandpa.

Bob and Verna’s weekends many years ago were spent with the other families from First Baptist Church camping across the great state of Utah. Like many of the adults in this group, Bob was like another parent to many of the children who found him easy to talk to and learn from. In fact, many of them remember him as the Santa Claus who visited our church congregation every year.

Bob and Verna established lasting friendships everywhere they went, including in the various restaurants they visited across the valley. Special thanks to all of those amazing people at Sizzler, Dees, Jim’s and La Puente for making them part of your restaurant family. Our parents love you and consider you part of our family. Bob also made great friends at the nearby Tunex where he and his pal Ellis could visit and simply be one of the guys. Please know how much he loved those interactions and appreciated all you did for him and his famous Chevy truck.

Bob was a man of tremendous faith, empathy, forgiveness and humility. A family man of strong conviction and character. Often remembered for his imperfections and sense of humor, but for those of us who also had flaws or weaknesses he is remembered for his forgiveness, belief in us and love. We will all miss him very much…

Services will be Monday, December 9, 2019 at 12 pm at First Baptist Church, 800 South 1300 East, Salt Lake City. Family receiving visits 11:00-11:45 am, at the church.