Rod Cook, beloved son, husband, father, grandfather and friend of many, born July 9, 1938, passed from our presence on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015.
Born in Culbertson, Neb., Rod and his brother Tom moved west with their parents and spent their early childhood shooting marbles and hunting with BB guns through the farm fields of Inglewood, Calif. As young adults they graduated to drag racing in cars built with their father, Joe.
The brothers attended the University of Nevada, Reno on full athletic scholarships. Both played football, with Rod being named a Division II All American Running Back.
Rod met and married the love of his life, Barbara Dewar, at UNR, returning to Granada Hills to join his father in the heavy equipment business. Rod and Barbara had three children, Kris, Joe and Kelley, who were privileged to grow up happily bouncing between their parents' and grandparents' houses.
Rod gave immense amounts of his time to his children and their activities, coaching hundreds of local kids in baseball and soccer for over 15 seasons in Granada Hills Little League and AYSO, while making friendships that lasted a lifetime. An avid athlete and outdoorsman, Rod participated in track and field with the LA Striders, raced dirt bikes, drove speed boats, played fast pitch softball, hunted, fished and traveled throughout the West.
In recent years, he and Barbara, along with wingman Cody, made countless trips to their beloved Wyoming as well as to northern Nevada to visit their daughters and grandchildren.
Rod was a warm and genuine person. He unconditionally saw the best in every person and made us each feel special and loved. He leaves in each of us a shining legacy of love and friendship. Rod is survived by his wife and best friend, Barbara; brother, Tom; daughters, Kris Stewart (Fred)(of Paradise Valley, Nev.) and Kelley Bell (Tom Donaldson) (of Winnemucca); son, Joe (Jill); grandchildren, Patrice, Shane, Carly, Jessica, Melissa, Ashley; wing man Cody ... and all who remember the warmth and friendship of this wonderful man.
A celebration of Rod's life was held Friday, Jan. 23 at 11 a.m. at the home of his son Joe, in Agoura Hills, Calif. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you donate to Rod's favorite cause, The Wounded Warrior Project or to your favorite charity.
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