Virginia Cook

Virginia Lee Cook , age 92, passed away September 15, 2024 peacefully in Traverse City, Michigan.

She was born December 14, 1931 in Ash Grove, Missouri, a daughter to Ernest and Ethel (Hankins) Anderson.

Virginia was proceeded in death by her parents, her husband Gerald (Jerry) Cook in 2016, her siblings Betty Jo Stevens, Bob Anderson, and Mary Carter, and Grandsons Ryan O'Rourke and Matthew Hinzmann.

Virginia is survived by daughters, Connie (Tom) O'Rourke, Barbi (Harry) Hinzmann, Christine (Don) Riopelle, Patricia (Mark) Flynn, Karen (Jarod) Lummen; 9 grandchildren; Meghan O'Rourke, Erin O'Rourke, Luke (Lesley) Hinzmann, Scott Riopelle (Jennifer), Tyler Riopelle, Lisa (Blake) Brooker, Todd Flynn, Jack Flynn, Kyle Flynn; great-grandchildren; Malena O'Rourke, Ethan Hinzmann-Jakobcic, Elijah Hinzmann, Josiah Hinzmann, Hannah Hinzmann, Isaiah Hinzmann, Emma Brooker, Alison Brooker.

When Virginia was young her family moved to McPherson, Kansas, where she was raised. She played the flute in the band. In High School she was on the May Queen Court and worked at the local movie theater.

She met Jerry Cook on a blind date at a picnic. They quickly fell in love and were married February 18, 1950 in McPherson. They were married 66 years before his passing.

Jerry and Virginia moved their family to Sparta, Michigan in 1963. Virginia gave birth to her 5th daughter and they continued to raise their family there.

When her daughters were all in school, Virginia started working for the local newspaper, “The Sentinel Leader” and wrote a weekly column “You never know when you get up in the morning” where she would write about everyday life with five daughters and some humorous observations of life around her.

Later, she started working for General Formulations in Sparta, and after retiring from there, she worked part time at the Sparta Public Library.

In her free time, Virginia enjoyed following the Detroit Tigers baseball and College Football. Her hobbies were reading, sewing, gardening, and traveling. She had a gift for writing poetry. She loved to go to plays and the symphony with her sister Betty, daughter Karen and granddaughter Erin.

She was involved with and enjoyed the people she met through Al-Anon, Garden Club, Book Club, Guild and Newcomers.

Virginia enjoyed family gatherings and was fortunate to be able to attend a family reunion in August of this year. It was fortunate for her and all of her family too, as they all knew she was the last living member of her generation…She was the “Belle of the ball!”

Virginia and Jerry were so proud of their five Daughters, eleven Grandchildren and eight Great Grandchildren. They considered them all one of the greatest achievements of their lives! The children, in turn, are so proud of Virginia and Jerry, and the love they shared over the years.

Virginia will be missed for her kindness to everyone, her strength, her advice and listening ear, her beautiful smile, and of course, her sense of humor.

Your Girls will miss you and think of you everyday. As promised, we will take care of each other until we meet up with you again!

We love you Mom!

Connie, Barbi, Chris, Patty and Karen..….

Your Cook Girls ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Memorial Contributions may be made to the Grand Traverse Pavilions Foundation for the wonderful care that our Mom received while she was staying there. The whole staff went above and beyond for the health and comfort of our Mom!

A celebration of her life will be held 1pm, Saturday, October 5, 2024 at Life Story Funeral Home, Traverse City. An informal gathering will follow from 1:45pm to 3pm. Please visit www.lifestorytc.com to share your thoughts and more.