Obituary: Cook

Bob Cook passed away and stepped off to his next adventure on October 1, 2011. Bob was born in Harlem, Montana in 1926 and graduated from Cut Bank High School in 1945. After spending a couple years working for the Great Northern Railroad, he gained admission to the University of Montana in Missoula where he played for the football team, graduating in 1951. After marrying Ilo Fangstrom, he enlisted for a stint in the U.S Air Force. During his time in the Air Force he started coaching and that became his lifelong passion. Following his discharge in 1955, he spent the next 20 years coaching football, track and swimming at various high schools and colleges in Montana and then in California. During this time Bob and Ilo had four children - Jim, Mark, Lora, and Julie.

After his coaching career, Bob turned his attention to various entrepreneurial undertakings including running a driving school, real estate investment, wholesale broker of Christmas trees, trading in western art, and breeding dogs...eventually settling in Minden, Nevada. Bob loved adventure and never ceased to check out things he hadn't done. He traveled extensively and was proud of the fact that he had visited all the continents on the globe. He met his second wife, Carmen, in the Philippines. In the late 1990s he eventually returned to his passion, coaching football.

At Bob's request no funeral service will be planned. His greatest pleasure in the last few years was his dogs and he loved their company. Therefore, in lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Bob's name to the Humane Society of your choice.