Donald R.E. Cook, age 85, of Andover, KS, passed away into the presence of his Lord on November 11, 2025, at his residence. He is survived by his loving wife Clara, two sons Phil and David, 15 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents Bryan and Helen Cook and brothers Hugh, AJ, and sister Mary Ellen.

Visitation is from 5 pm to 7 pm on Sunday, November 16, 2025, at Faith Baptist Church Andover KS. Funeral service will be held at 10:30 am Monday, November 17, 2025 at Faith Baptist Church.

Donald Ray Eugene Cook was born at home in Ellensburg, Washington, on December 18, 1939. This was two years before Pearl Harbor was bombed by Japan. The Cook family moved to Seattle during the war, near the large Boeing Plane Factory, which everyone expected Japan to bomb but they did not. In 1945 the Cook family left Washington by train and went to Southern Missouri. They had saved $5,000 and bought a 190 acre farm in Barry County.

Donald and his family farmed the land, milking cows, planting corn and wheat, raising chickens, etc. 1951 was a devastating year as there was a massive fire that swept across the Cook farm. All winter-stored hay was destroyed and buildings including a large 3,000 chicken size newly built building. The neighbors were very generous that winter with sharing their hay. 1952 was a special year as Donald went to a revival meeting and accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. This changed his life forever.

Donald graduated from High School on May 10, 1957, and left for the Air Force on May 15, 1957. Donald's dad served in WWI. His older brother Hugh served in WWII. His other brother AJ served in the Korean War.

Donald served in peacetime as president Eisenhower did not start any wars. After Basic Training and Hydraulic School, Donald was stationed at Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona. There he did two temporary deployments to Guam where he was part of the ground crew for 30 First Strike Force B-47 bombers. While there he learned Scuba Diving in the Pacific water off of Guam.
In Tucson, Donald turned in a fellow airman for stealing. His reward was a transfer to Kansas. What the Airforce did not know was God needed Donald in Kansas to meet the love of his life Clara Brewood, a student at the University of Kansas. They were married on June 23, 1961, after his time at Forbes Air Force in Topeka, Kansas.

In January 1962, Donald and Clara enrolled at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. In September 1962, Donald and Clara transferred to Emmaus Bible School in Oak Park, Illinois. Clara attended for two years and Donald graduated in 1965. While living in Chicago, son Phil was born in 1964 and son Dave was born in 1966.

In 1967, Donald joined the Office Products Division of IBM. In 1968, Donald's sister's husband died suddenly of a heart attack. Donald asked and got a transfer to Kansas City. Donald continued with IBM until 1973. He left then and went to work for an independent company repairing typewriters and printers.

While working fulltime, Donald earned his Master's Degree in theology and was licensed as a pastor in Kansas. He served mostly as a fill-in for sick leave and vacationing pastors. He once filled in for eight months between pastors. He retired in 2004 and with free time, For the next 16 years, grandpa and grandma made many trips with family and grandchildren.

In 2001, Donald, Clara, and Dave started a home business of laser printers until 2023.

In 2024, Donald sold his house of 55 years in Kansas City to retire in Andover Kansas.