Curtis Harold Cook

Curtis was born in Modesto, California to the late Harold and Edith Cook. When he was a young child, the family relocated to Redding, California where he was raised and graduated from Enterprise High School in 1963. After graduation, he moved to San Francisco and attended City College. His education was put on hold as he served in the United States Army from 1965-1968 and became a Vietnam Veteran. Curtis later graduated from the University of San Francisco in 1977 with a degree in Business.

It was when Curtis moved to San Francisco in 1963 that he met Zenzi Maria Helweg on a blind date and their love story began. They dated while attending college and throughout his service in the military. He married the love of his life and his best friend on October 5, 1968 and together they welcomed three children; Curtis Harold Cook, Jr., Zenzi Ann, and Marcus Emil. Curtis helped to raise his children with much love, patience, discipline, and humility.

Curtis was an avid fisherman and hunter. He loved the great outdoors enjoying all that it had to offer and instilled that passion in his children and grandchildren. His favorite fishing spot (or spots, if including the secret ones) was at Hat Creek where he learned to fish as a child with his parents. The annual trip there for the season's opening day of stream fishing was always eagerly anticipated as was any other fishing, camping, or hunting trip.

In Curtis's professional career, he worked eleven years with Wells Fargo Bank and went on to own and operate various businesses; financial consulting, floral, and then in 1984, together with his wife, opened a beauty college in San Francisco and enjoyed many years in education before retiring in 2012. A few years later moving full-time to their home in Corning, a place very dear to his heart.

Curtis is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Zenzi Maria; his son Curtis Jr. (Ina); daughter Zenzi; son Marcus (Tricia); nine beloved grandchildren; sisters Donna (Cook) Prichard and Marjorie (Cook) Schrage; and many beloved nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his brothers David and Jerry Cook and his parents.

Services will be held at 11:00am on June 21, 2022 at the Northern California Veterans Cemetery in Igo, California.