Jack Russell Cook, 88, of Tyler, passed away after a long illness on March 26, 2016 at his home. He was born June 7, 1927 at Cottonwood Point, MO with the aid of mid-wife Matt Russell, from whom he received his middle name. As the youngest of ten children of Samuel Felix Cook and Maude Mae Abbott, he was one of three who survived illness and a house fire to live to adulthood, along with his sister Pauline and his brother Sam, Jr.
He was raised in the farming area around Portageville, MO before and after his father died, when Jack was age 10. He remained in the area helping support his mother, while his brother was fighting in Europe, until entering the U.S. Army in the fall of 1945. Stationed in Germany for three years as a radio operator, he met and married his wife of 60 years, Hannelore Agnes Margarete Neuner, with whom he had five children.
While involved in the German Occupation, he was pressed into service as a radio operator on one of the first transports of the Berlin Airlift. After moving from Missouri to Tyler, TX to attend electronics training, he was recalled to service in the Korean War. During his deployment he led a team of radio operators directing the air coverage of U.S. troops. At one point his team was left to provide air support while U.S. troops fell back from a massive assault by enemy forces. Stranded behind enemy lines they completed their coverage, destroyed their equipment and made their way back over a week traveling at night to the U.S. lines. During this time, his daily letters to his wife ceased, leading to concern of his fate. He arrived at Headquarters just in time to stop the telegram announcing him missing in action.
Returning to Tyler he worked for T.B. Butler Publishing Co. and Wortham Vending before operating his European Car Service, in Tyler and Longview, from which he retired. He never knew a stranger and was known to assist many travelers stranded on the highways or just needing a ride into town. He was a longtime supporter of Disabled American Veterans. In his later years he was never without his loving Min Pin Minnie Mouse.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Hannelore, his parents, his brother and sister, two nephews, Gary and Larry Ward of Missouri. He is survived by his children and their spouses, Russell (Vicki) Cook of Garland, TX, Patricia Cook, June Cook and Debbie (Jayme) Marcontell all of Tyler and Christy (Scott) Copeland of Little Rock, AR. In addition, he is survived by his grandchildren and their spouses, Carmen (Brian) Morgan and Matthew (Erin) Cook of Allen, TX, James Miles of Tyler, Edwin (Kathy) Miles of Gresham, Eron Marcontell of Ft. Worth and Sydney Copeland of Little Rock, AR; as well as eight great-grandchildren.
The family wishes to thank his caregivers, Chris Goss, Morgan Hassan, Sandra Montrose, Elvine Nyarindo and those at Hospice of East Texas.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM, Wednesday, March 30, 2016 at Tyler Memorial Funeral Home with visitation one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow at Tyler Memorial Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Hospice of East Texas Foundation, 4111 University Blvd., Tyler, TX 75701; The Disabled American Veterans, PO Box 1430, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301 or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
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