Jack Walter Cook, 92, of Fort Meyers Beach, died Sunday, Sept. 1, 2013, after a short illness.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Anna (Wickman) Cook of Elkhart, Ind.; father Walter Cook of Osceola, Ind.; and his son, Ronnie A. Cook of Elkhart.
He leaves behind his wife of 65 years, Norma Lita (Hofferth) Cook of Fort Meyers Beach, and two children, Diana Galves-Cook and Randi Cook, both of Elkhart. Also surviving are four grandchildren, Jeff and Kelli (Cook) Reynolds of Parma Heights, Ohio, and Nicholas and Angela Cook of Paw Paw, Mich., and five great-grandchildren.
Jack was a captain in World War II as a B-17 bomber pilot in the 8th Air Force, U.S. Army, 305th Bomb Group, 364th Bomb Squadron. Jack flew 33 successful missions from England to Germany during the European Theater including D-Day. After his tour in the B-17s was completed, Jack flew C-47s for the 311th Ferrying Squadron and 68th Transport Squadron transporting wounded, troops, doctors/nurses and war supplies. Jack flew more than 2000 hours supporting our troops in WWII.
Jack and his family owned IMC Incorporated and R Concepts, both of Elkhart. He and the family sold the companies so he could retire years ago.
Jack was a member of the Fort Meyers Kiwanis Club, life member of American Legion Post 0074, life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the Distinguished Flying Cross Society of Southwestern Florida.
Jack loved flying, wood working, fishing, his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and his many friends both in Elkhart and Florida.
In lieu of flowers, please support our troops via a care package.
Viewing will be held from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m, Saturday, September 14, 2013 in Chapel Hill Funeral Home, 10776 McKinley Highway, Osceola with a funeral service to follow at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens that will include an Honor Guard by Indiana