Carlton E. Cook

Carlton Cook, 98, of Felch, died Monday, May 1, 2017 at ManorCare Health Services in Kingsford. He was born February 11, 1919 in Metropolitan, the son of the late William and Esther (Hanson) Cook. Carlton graduated from Felch High School in 1936. After graduation, he did numerous jobs around the community, helping out on farms and in the woods. He then joined the WPA, and attended technical trade school at Gogebic Community College. He went to work trimming trees for Asplundh Tree Co. throughout the Midwest. During World War II he enlisted into the Army Air Corps and did his basic training at Fort Meyers, FL. From there he was deployed to Norwich, England, were he was assigned to the 93rd Bomb Group, 328th Squadron. After the war, Carlton returned to Felch, where he began working at the Ford Motor Company in Kingsford. He was then hired at the Veteran's Administration Hospital as part of the grounds keeping crew. Carlton worked his way up to the position of Superintendent of Engineering. It was during this time that he met and married the love of his life, Betty Williams. The couple was married on June 9, 1956 in Wakefield. They built a home in Felch, where they raised their five children. Betty preceded him in death on Dec. 24, 2014. Carlton was an active member of the Felch Community as a member of the Felch-Breen VFW Post 4803 and serving on the Felch Township Board of Review for many years. He was also a lifelong member of the Zion Lutheran Church, where he served on the church council. He was an accomplished wood worker, gunsmith, and gardener; there wasn't much he couldn't fix. His knowledge of trees brought numerous students to his yard each year when they were assigned to do their infamous leaf project. He had many species of trees and what trees he didn’t have he knew where find. Carlton is survived his five children William (Patti) Cook of Felch, Bernard (Brenda) Cook of Sterling Heights, Ann-Louise (Jeff) Ebert of Petoskey, Robert (Charlene) Cook of Naubinway, and Sharon (Steve) Opolka of Iron Mountain, nine grandchildren Alena (Jason) Rodriquez, Andrew Cook, Aaron Cook, Alec (Megan) Cook, Carlton Cook, Chris Nygard, Crystal Nygard, Matthew Opolka, and Nicholas Opolka, four great grandchildren Javon Nygard, Caitlyn and Kara Rodriquez, and Jeffrey Cook, one brother Edward (Myrna) Cook, of Iron River, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two brothers Bernard Cook and Russell Cook and two sisters Dorothy Overacker and Lorraine Cook. Visitation will be Saturday from 9-11 am at Zion Lutheran Church. Funeral services will follow at 11am at the church. Rev. Lee Liverance will officiate. Burial will be in the Felch Cemetery. Graveside military rites will be accorded by the Felch Breen VFW post 4803. His grandsons will serve as pallbearers. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Zion Lutheran Church. Condolences may be expressed to the family of Carlton Cook online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com. The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the arrangements.

Carlton E. Cook

February 11, 1919 - May 1, 2017