Norman Leslie Cook

Norm Cook was born June 24, 1939, at the family ranch in Walden CO to Leslie and Grace Loomis Cook. Norm passed away at the age of 84 on January 10, 2024, in Fort Collins CO after a period of declining health.

Norm had been a resident of Fort Collins since 1945 and was a graduate of the Fort Collins High School class of 1957. Norm served honorably in the US Navy as an Aerographer’s Mate 2nd Class aboard the USS Orca (AVP-49) and at Naval Station Pearl Harbor HI. After being discharged from the Navy, Norm worked various jobs including at the Fuller Ranch in North Park CO, Mawson Lumber & Hardware Co., Alpine Cabinet Co., finally retiring from ABB Flexible Automation in the late 1990s.

Norm was happiest spending time at his beloved Poudre Canyon Cabin playing the fiddle and piano with his many friends and fellow music lovers. For as long as he was able to, Norm would faithfully make an annual pilgrimage to Weiser ID for the National Oldtime Fiddler’s Contest and Festival. Norm loved to drive and was happy to hit the open road to visit friends and family or just for the sake of the trip.

During his retirement, Norm found great pleasure as co-host and host of the Runaway Fiddle radio show at KRFC 88.9 FM where he was able to share his love and knowledge of fiddle artists and music across the airwaves. Norm was a longtime resident of the Northern Hotel in Old Town Fort Collins where he could typically be found enjoying a good meal at the Silver Grill Cafe or having a hot cup of coffee while talking with friends and passers-by at Starbucks on the corner of N. College and Walnut.

Norm was an active member of Poudre Park Christian Fellowship where he served as a musician on the worship team and as the church bookkeeper.

Although he never married or had any children, Norm had many, many friends and adopted family across the country, and was truly loved by all that had the good fortune of knowing him. Norm was preceded in death by his parents and his younger brother and only sibling, Lowell Cook.

Norm is survived by his sister-in-law, Sue Ann Cook of Tampa FL, niece, Tammara Cook (DJ, Jessie, and Zach) of Estes Park CO, nephew, Joseph and his wife Ann Cook (JoAnne and Emily) of Huntsville AL, his “Angels”, Laura Osell, Leslie Salonen, and Katie Stiegelmeier, and his many friends and church family.

Donations may be made in Norm’s memory to your local Salvation Army or to KRFC Radio.

A Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, May 18, 2024 at the Allnutt Funeral Service - Drake Chapel.

To donate to Salvation Army Fort Collins:

https://fortcollins.salvationarmy.org/

To Donate to KRFC Radio:

https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/PublicRadioforTheFrontRange/donate.html