116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Obituaries
The Gazette publishes obituaries on a daily basis. Use the search field above to search for obituaries by name or keyword. Readers can submit an obituary or submit a milestone to The Gazette. The obituary must be submitted before 1 p.m. for publication on thegazette.com at 6 p.m. and in the daily edition the next day, with the exception of obituaries for Sunday publication, which must be submitted by 1 p.m. on Fridays.
Cook, Vernon Harry
Vernon Harry Cook, 77, of Marion, died peacefully in his sleep following a lengthy battle with cancer on Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2010. Per Vernon's wishes, there will not be a formal service held at this time. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date with private family burial. Arrangements by Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Marion.
Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Carolyn; children, Jim (Sheila) of Marion, Steve (Pat) of Fairfax, Dave (Karen) of Washington, Don of Marion, Ron (Karan) of Illinois, Dan (Sondra) of New Virginia, Janine (Rick) Walters of Center Point, Michael (Valerie) of Baxter, and Diane of Marion; 24 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Also surviving are a sister, Sylvia Nemecek of New York; brother, Bob (Jan) Cook of Arkansas; son-in-law, John Kuiken; and several other loving family members.
He was preceded in death by his parents; beloved daughter, Teresa; brother, Jerry; sister, Dolores Gainor; two brothers-in-law, Ron Eklind and Dean Nemecek; and father and mother-in-law, Fred & Rose Vojt.
Vernon was born Oct. 2, 1933, the son of Harry and Helen (Van Antwerp) Cook in Cedar Rapids. On May 1, 1953, he married Carolyn Rose Vojt in Iowa City. Vernon was very proud of his military service, serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict. Vernon was a retired truck driver and volunteer firefighter at Anamosa. He was past commander of VFW Post 4077 of Anamosa and a member of American Legion Post 298 of Marion.
Vernon enjoyed fishing, hunting, playing cards and camping.
Thank you Dad (Grandpa) for giving us a passion for life and the tools, the love and the support to follow our dreams.
The family wishes to extend a special thanks to Dr. Ghosh, the staff at Oncology Associates, the staff at St. Luke's Hospice and Hospital and Raymond & Rosemary for all of their kind care and support.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to Vernon's family for a memorial fund to be established at a later date.
Please sign the online guest book for Vernon at under obituaries.
Daily Newsletters