Luther Banner Cook
May 20, 1929 - March 22, 2014
Obituary
COOK, LUTHER B.
MADISON – Luther B. Cook, age 84, passed away on Saturday, March 22, 2014. He was born on May 20, 1929, the son of Searl and Betty (Hobler) Cook. He graduated from Madison East High School in 1949. Following high school, Luther enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps. He was a member of the 1st experimental rescue helicopter unit. Luther served in the Korean War from 1949-1952. After the war, he married Elizabeth Klechefski. Together they had a daughter, Linda, and a son, Stuart. Luther worked for the Madison Water Utility for 39 years before retiring in 1992. He was united in marriage to Beverly (Gerber) Carson on March 8, 1980. Luther enjoyed fishing, hunting, golfing and trap shooting. He was a skilled woodworker and enjoyed traveling, being surrounded by nature and the outdoors while at his cabin. But nothing compared to the time spent with his family. Luther is survived by his wife of 34 years, Beverly; children, Linda (Terry) Baumgartner of Minocqua, Stuart Cook of Columbus, Dale (Tamra) Carson of Cottage Grove and Leanne (Jim) Stoker of Madison; grandchildren, Brian (Amber) Baumgartner, Simon Baumgartner, Nicole (Sven) Scheunemann, Kennan Stoker and Ahna Stoker; great-grandchildren, Natalie, Evelyn, Vonn and Modi; a brother-in-law, Gene (Beverly) Gerber; sisters-in-law, Mary Rought and Elaine Gerber. He was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Betty Lawson. A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, April 10, 2014 at 11 a.m. at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison with the Rev. Staci Marrese-Wheeler presiding. Inurnment with military honors will be conducted at Roselawn Memorial Park following the service. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Thursday from 10 a.m. until time of the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family for a fund to be established. A special thank you to the nurses and staff at Alden Estates in Jefferson for all of their loving care. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608)221-5420
Events
Visitation
Thu Apr 10, 2014 @ 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM CDT
Gunderson Funeral and Cremation Care - Madison • 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, WI 53716
Service
Thu Apr 10, 2014 @ 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM CDT
Gunderson Funeral and Cremation Care - Madison • 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, WI 53716
Photos
Memories
TC
Tamra Bender Carson
Other •
I will never forget the day we spent together building a bird house. He was so patient with me and we laughed all day. He was a generous and caring man with a great sense of humor. And he accepted me like a daughter from the first time I met him. I will truly very much miss this man. I was blessed to be a part of his life for 25 years and I am so grateful for that. Tamra Carson.
DC
Doreen Conner
Other •
Luther taught me how to work with leather. He even bought me a leather working starter kit. He showed me a few tricks and let me be creative. I still have some of the things I made. He was so patient and funny, with a twinkle in his eyes. He told me once when I was a teenager that he could never see me working at a "desk job". Well, Luther, I do, but my passion still lies outdoors with the animals. Rest in peace, dear uncle.
SB
Sandra Behling
Other •
Lute was my cousin, he was such a sweet and caring man. He took such good care of my mom and dad when they were alive and in Madison, he always checked on them to see how they were doing and helped dad find his car in the mall parking lot when he lost it. We always enjoyed his and Bev's visits when they were on their way to the cabin. Luther you will be missed. :-(
PS
Patty Sherwood
Other •
Luther was one of my Dad's (Leonard Birney) best friends, having fought in Korea together. They, along with Jim Westendorf. and Charlie Cook. remained lifelong friends. Their courage, honor, love and sense of commitment to each other and to their country is an inspiration to my family and others. When my Dad passed away 3 years ago, Bev and Luther spent a few days with us and the rest of the group, telling old stories and we heard a story we had never before of how Luther saved my Dad's life in Korea. For that and for many other reasons, I'm grateful to Luther. He was a good man and he'll be missed. My condolences to Bev and the whole family.
_Patty Sherwood
JS
Jim Stoker
Other •
Luther and I shared a lot of campfires together. A morning fire always had coffee. Sometimes fried potatoes and eggs, with talk of what the day might bring. An evening fire generally involved some Brandy. Mostly there were stories of past hunting and fishing adventures. Occasionaly if there was enough brandy he would allow some of the gosts from Korea to come out. Some were comical. They were trying to supliment their rations with fresh meat. He spotted a deer running on a hillside. His pilot flew their "chopper" along side that deer, and they emptied every rifle they had. He said " that potlicker is still running ". He was at Inchon, and froze his hands at the Chosin reservoir. We learned about those battles in history class -- he was there, a kid right out of highschool. I will end this with a classic Luther. Kennan, on his first deer hunt was sitting with grampa. "grampa- there's a deer over there". "well shoot the son of a bitch". REALLY gonna miss you grampa. Stoker
LB
Leonard Birney
Other •
Mr Cook served with my father during the Korean War. They were both members of HMX-1 (absorbed by VMO-6 during Korea) as helicopter mechanics working on HO3S's. A group of four of these guys, Mr Cook, my father, Mr Westendorf and Mr Chapman, remained good friends since the war and had many get togethers. The stories they told of war time experiences were always great to listen to (they were in many battles during the war, including Inchon, liberation of Seoul and the Chosin Campaign). The friendship that they all shared was incredible, forged by the bond of combat, fighting together against a common enemy. I always looked forward to Mr Cook's visits, but not as much as my father. Now my father, Mr Cook and Mr Chapman have gone from this life, but I think they are all still bonded together, by a friendship stronger than any I have ever seen.
Semper Fi Marine! You will be dearly missed!