Norman James Cook Obituary (1939 - 2006)

Born Jun 24, 1939, Norman James Cook attended Charlevoix High School in Charlevoix, MI. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Norman James Cook.

Graduation Year	Class of 1957
Date of Birth	Jun 24, 1939
Date of Passing	Jul 26, 2006
About	Norman J. Cook, 67, of Charlevoix, died Thursday, July 27, 2006, at his home in Charlevoix, after a long battle with cancer. Rite of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 1, at St. Mary's Church in Charlevoix, with the Rev. Jerry Hunko officiating. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery in Charlevoix. Norm was born June 24, 1939, in Kalamazoo, the son of Robert J. and Mary L. (Ward) Cook. He attended Holy Childhood School in Harbor Springs and Pellston School before attending and graduating from Charlevoix High School in 1957. Norm studied aviation at Western Michigan University, and then moved home where he was employed by Hoskins Manufacturing and Great Lakes Fabrication. He returned to WMU to earn a bachelor of science with a vocational education certificate, and then earned a master of science. Norm first taught at the Ellsworth and Charlevoix schools for a short time. Most of his career was spent teaching at East Jordan Schools, where he retired in 1993 after 23 years. A licensed builder, Norm built homes throughout Northern Michigan. Norm was a member of St. Mary's Church in Charlevoix, the Michigan Industrial and Technical Education Society (MITES), and the Experimental Aircraft Association, Chapter 560. He built a Zenith CH300 airplane, which he flew around the country to visit family and friends. He enjoyed outdoor sports such as boating, fishing, camping, skiing and golfing. Norm especially loved to spend time with his wife, children and grandchildren and was an imaginative storyteller, and a very patient grandfather. On Sept. 5, 1959, he married the former Barbara J. Schram in Kalamazoo, and she survives him. Also surviving are their daughters, Joan M. (Jim) Cook-Mills of Aurora, Ill., Kathryn J. (Kirk) Heckendorn of Charlevoix, Sheryl L. (Christopher "Kip") Greene of Grand Haven, Patricia A. (Michael) Loper of Petoskey; grandchildren, Alexander, Jason and Jessica Mills, Jacklyn and Michael Heckendorn, Trevor, Terry and Rya Greene, Brian and Ellen Loper; father, Robert J. Cook, of Charlevoix; sisters, Nancy (Tony) Giustra of Cross Village, Martha Skeel of Charlevoix; brother, Frank (Dayle) Cook, of Mesa, Ariz.; uncles, Lou (Izetta) Ward of Grand Rapids, George (Ruth) Cook of Kansas City, Mo.; aunt, Ann Ellwanger, of Harbor Springs. Norm's mother, and sister, Mary Lou, preceded him in death. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary's parish in Charlevoix, or to the Michigan Association of Retired School Personnel (MARSP) Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 718, East Jordan, Mich. 49727. The family will greet friends at the Winchester Funeral Home in Charlevoix 3-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. today, Monday, July 31, where a rosary will be recited at 7 p.m.