Lawrence J. Cook Jr.

Larry was born on July 22, 1922, in Chicago, Illinois, to father Lawrence J. Cook and mother, Seawillow (Betty) Russell Finnan. He joined the US Navy when he was seventeen and was stationed on the USS Cuyama, an oil tanker that began her war service by carrying cargo between Pearl Harbor and San Pedro, California. Two years after being honorably discharged from the navy, Larry joined the US Air Force. Retiring after twenty years' service in the Air Force, Larry bought a house in Burbank, Illinois, and worked for NBC, from which he retired in 1985. He and his wife, Pat, relocated to Port St. Lucie, Florida, in 1989, where he lived until his death.

Larry led an active and vibrant life up until his final days, continuing to enjoy his hobbies and going about the business of taking care of his wife and his home with the stamina of a much younger man. He was an accomplished ham radio operator and received many awards and recognitions.

Larry is survived by his wife, Patricia Mary Margaret Kosch; sisters Margaret Giedeman and Virginia Fronick; children Barbara Ann Karcz, Michael Lawrence Cook, Robert Byron Cook (Jean Coney Cook), Paul John Cook (Nealia Cook), Deanna Lee Drop DeVos (Kevin DeVos), Beverly Kay Cook (Fran Hlocky), and Elizabeth Ann Smith (Richard Smith); grandchildren, Jessica Ann Karcz, (Dave Vilamil), Johnathon Francis Karcz (Violet Martinez), Sarah Elizabeth Karcz, Vincent Aaron Karcz, Colleen Ann Cook, Michael Cook, Thomas Cook, Alexander Cook (Shel), Zachary Cook, Valerie Doll (Zachary Doll), Michelle Byriel (Jason Byriel), Brittany Crozier (Michael Crozier), Ayla Ball (Garrett Ball), Brenna Smith, Kyle Smith, Daniel Smith, Chaeli Smith, Matthew Smith, Patrick Smith, and Christopher Smith; and great-grandchildren Isabella Vilamil, Iliana Vilamil, Nolan Karcz, Blake Karcz, Nicole Crozier, and Charlotte Ball. Larry is predeceased by his father Lawrence, mother Betty, stepmother Vivian (nee Nelson), sister Marcella Finnan Hill, son-in-law Walter Karcz, and grandson Nicholas Iovino.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Quilts of Valor Foundation. (https://www.qovf.org)