COOK
Keith Phillip Cook, 79, of Lowell, MI passed away on December 19, 2024, following a fall at his residence, Fountain View Assisted Living. Keith was born December 25, 1944 in Belding, the son of Russell and Doris (Walkington) Cook. Keith attended Brink Country School as a youngster and graduated with the Belding High School Class of 1963. He married Shirley Robinson that same year and they celebrated 15 days shy of 62 years together. Keith worked for 34 years at Amway, where he learned the skilled trade of machine maintenance. He worked on all sorts of machines that produced the company’s products and became a proficient welder and pump repairman.
Over the years, he gained leadership skills and became a supervisor, overseeing machine maintenance, until his retirement in 2012. He was well-liked by his fellow employees and was very proud of his team of workers who kept their department running smoothly. Deer hunting was a very important part of Keith’s life. He was an excellent marksman, earning him the name One Shot Cook. He enjoyed hunting for Whitetail deer in Michigan and Saskatchewan. His favorite trips were hunting with good friends in Wyoming for elk, antelope, mule deer and pronghorn. He also loved fishing in both summer and winter.
He enjoyed many fishing trips to Canada and Lake Erie with friends and family. Over the years, Keith developed a love of NASCAR. He traveled to nearly every NASCAR track east of the Mississippi and a few to the west. Every weekend, you could find him watching the races on TV. He also loved traveling and visited every U.S. state except Louisiana, Oklahoma, Idaho and New Mexico. He also visited Mexico, Canada and Europe, making many wonderful memories.
Unfortunately, Keith was diagnosed in 2000 with Parkinson’s Disease. For many years, he struggled with all the complications of that horrible way of life. He fell often and had many other issues, but he always kept a positive attitude and did the best he could. He was a very kind, patient and loving man. Keith will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Shirley; daughter, Darlene (Roy) Modzeleski of Walker; grandchildren, Joy Taylor of South Carolina, Katrina Taylor and David Taylor of Grand Rapids; great-grandchildren, Ava Robinson, John Taylor, Beatrice and Francis McColgan; In-laws Marilyn Steward, Robert (Karen) Robinson, Frank “Jim” (Pat Smith) Robinson, Mary Robinson and Ken Sloan. He also will be very missed by his loving caregivers at Fountain View who were like family to him.
Keith was preceded in death by his parents, and his brothers, Robert C. Cook and Joel Leslie Cook. A service to celebrate his life was held on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024, at the Johnson-Feuerstein Funeral Home, with Pastor Mike Simmons officiating. Visitation preceded the service from 11 a.m. -1 p.m. Interment followed at the Rest Haven Memory Gardens, Belding. Keith had a particular interest in the Denny Craycraft Veterans’ Memorial Park in Belding, having lost his brother, Marine Lance Corporal, Joel Leslie Cook, who was killed in 1969 while serving in the Vietnam Conflict. Memorial contributions may be made to the Denny Craycraft Veteran’s Memorial Park in Keith’s honor.
