Sheridan native Edwin H. Cook, 81, of Lexington, Neb., died Monday, Aug. 31, 2009, at Plum Creek Care Center in Lexington.

Visitation is 4-7 p.m. Thursday at Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington. Funeral service is 10:30 a.m. Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lexington with Pastor Michael Gruhn officiating. Burial with military honors will be in Greenwood Cemetery at Lexington.

Born Nov. 20, 1927, in Sheridan to Henry and Katherine (Pitsch) Cook, he attended school here but dropped out in his senior year to serve in World War II in the United States Navy. After military service, he returned to finish high school, graduating in 1948.

He married Maxine Bolinger on Dec. 5, 1948, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Sheridan.

Mr. Cook worked at Sheridan Iron Works and helped with farming operations in Wyoming and Montana.

The couple moved in 1954 to California, where he repaired appliances and drove a fuel truck.

The family moved to Seward, Neb., where he attended Concordia Teacher’s College from 1958 to 1961, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in education.

They moved to Milwaukee, Piedmont, Calif., then to Buffalo, where he taught school.

He also worked as a carpenter, sold insurance, and then attended the University of Utah, where he graduated with a master’s degree in education.

He attended Concordia Theological Seminary in Springfield, Ill. He served parishes in Wyoming and Nebraska until retiring in 1990, when he moved to Lexington to be near family. He continued to work with several area churches.

He enjoyed spending time with his family, woodworking, and took great pride in his yard and flowers.

He was preceded in death by a great-grandson.

Survivors include his wife; one son, Perry Cook of Lemoore, Calif.; one daughter, Teresa Maxcy of Lexington; a brother, Bill Cook of Watsonville, Calif.; a sister, Lee Bobosky of Sacramento, Calif.; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials may benefit Trinity Lutheran Church in Lexington, “The Lutheran Hour,” or donor’s choice.

Online condolences may be left at reynoldslovefuneralhome.com.

The Sheridan Press - September 2, 2009.