Susan Cook, 72

Susan Wall Cook, age 72, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away Friday morning, Nov. 15, 2013, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis.

She was born Sept. 23, 1941, in Owensboro, Ky., daughter of the late Herbert and Elizabeth (Heltsley) Wall.

Susan resided in Sturgis since 1970 coming from Schoolcraft. She also lived in Niles and her early life was lived in Owensboro, Ky., where she was a graduate of Owensboro High School with the class of 1959. She continued her education at Murray State University receiving a bachelor’d degree in home economics and elementary education. In 1976, she earned a master’s degree in education from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo.

On Sept. 18, 1965, she married John Cook in Niles.

In 1993, she retired from Sturgis Public Schools where she taught the fifth and third grades at Wall School which she considered her second home. Before joining Sturgis Public Schools, she taught kindergarten in Niles Public Schools and fourth grade at Schoolcraft Public Schools.

Susan was an active member of the St. John’s Episcopal Church in Sturgis where she was a member of the Daughters of the Kings, she taught Sunday school and was awarded the Rectors Cross in 2013. She also held memberships in the Sturgis Junior Woman’s League, National Education Association, Michigan Education Association, Sturgis Education Association and Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority. In 2000, she was named Sturgis Citizen of the Year. For many years she was an active volunteer for the CROP Walk and the Salvation Army and organized a national letter writing campaign to United States military men and women serving our country. She was proud to have appeared on the cover of American Profile magazine honoring her for her volunteer efforts.

She is survived by her loving and dedicated husband of 48 years, John; one daughter, Tracy (David) Clark of Sturgis; one son, Scott Cook of Sturgis; five grandchildren, Taylor Clark, Madison Clark, Elizabeth Cook, Kaitlin Cook and Mallory Cook; one great-grandson, Landon Ankney; one sister, Elizabeth Patterson, M.D. of Middletown, Ohio; and several nieces and nephews.

In accordance with her wishes, cremation has taken place. The family will receive friends from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday at the Hackman Family Funeral Homes – Hackman Chapel, 114 S. Nottawa St., Sturgis, MI 49091, 269-651-2331. A memorial Requiem Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Sturgis. The Rev. Father Aaron Evans will officiate. Placement of the ashes will follow the Mass in St. John’s Garden.

The family suggests those wishing to make a memorial donation in Mrs. Cook’s memory consider the St. John’s Episcopal Church, 110 S. Clay St., Sturgis, MI 49091.

The obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhome.com where personal messages of support may be left for the family.