Stanley Earl Cook

Stanley Earl Cook, 83, a lifelong farmer of California, Mo., ended his walk in this life and began a new journey on Sunday, January 20, 2013, at the Western Missouri Medical Center in Warrensburg, Mo. Stanley was born to Luther Washington Cook and Nellie Frances (Wyss) Cook on August 9, 1929 on the farm homestead along the banks of String Creek, 2 miles northwest of McGirk, Mo. Stanley married Henrietta Dalstein, the love of his life for 59 years of undiminished mutual devotion, on January 17, 1954. She continues to reside in their home. Through 8th grade, Stanley attended Harlan School, located on the Cook Farm. After graduation from California High School in 1947, he worked for Caterpillar in Peoria, Ill. as a general laborer. Stanley served in the Army 619th Engineers Heavy Equipment Company and was a veteran of the Korean War. After service he came home to begin a farming operation on land that remained special to him his entire life. The farm located in Eastern Moniteau County was settled by his great-grandfather, George Washington Cook in 1832 and continues to remain in the family. Employed by the Missouri Department of Corrections in 1964, Stanley managed the Cannery Operation at the Renz Farm Correctional Facility. His experience there had a profound impact on his view of social justice and human nature. In 1974, he left work with state government to farm full time in an intensive livestock operation that grew to include, at times, all three of his sons. In a decade S. Cook Farms grew from a small cattle and farrow-to-finish hog operation to one of the largest hog finishing enterprises in the state of Missouri. 22,000 hogs were finished in 1987. In the mid 1990ís the family business created a reclamation firm utilizing heavy equipment to build levees and remediate nearly 7,000 acres of sand damaged crop land along the Missouri River. Cooperating with his sons in a thriving business provided one of the most rewarding periods of his life, combining two elements that were of utmost importance to him: hard work and family. Stanley was a talented, masterful wrestler and from grade school, excepting his brothers, he lost only to the ìBig Swedeî in the Army. A high school basketball player who excelled on the defensive end of the court, he became an avid basketball fan and student of the game. He frequently attended games at the University of Missouri. He was particularly a fan of his sons and grandchildren. Not a game was missed; he truly loved to watch their games and to be involved in their lives. He was rarely beaten at the game of checkers. Survivors include two brothers, Elwood Cook and Nelson Cook, both of California, Mo.; three married sons, Stanley Jr. and wife Vickie of California, Mo., Brent and wife Gail Cook of Salon, Iowa, Kent and wife Lori of Columbia, Mo.; 11 grandchildren, Joshua Cook, Ambo, Ethiopia, Jessica (Cook) Heseman, Columbia, Mo., Johnna (Cook) Schanzmeyer, California, Mo., Kendal Yarbrough, Dexter, Mo., Monica (Upshaw) LaMotte, Jefferson City, Mo., Devin Upshaw, California, Mo., Augusta Cook, Iowa City, Ga., and Harrison Cook, of Salon, Iowa, Jordan Cook, and Zachary Cook of Columbia, Mo.; four great-grandchildren, Makayla and Nola Schanzmeyer, California, Mo., Mathew and Keegan Yarbrough, Dexter Mo. Stanley was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Lawrence Cook and Richard Cook of California, Mo. Stanley was a Sunday school teacher and a lifelong member of the Lebanon Baptist Church, McGirk, Mo., which will host a Celebration of Life service at 2:00 p.m., February 3, 2013. The public is invited to attend and share their stories of Stanleyís unique and wonderful life. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Alzheimerís Association Mid-Missouri, the Warrensburg Veteranís Home, or the Lebanon Baptist Church c/o Bowlin-Cantriel Funeral Services, 100 S. Oak, California, MO 65018. Arrangements are under the direction of Bowlin-Cantriel Funeral Services www.bowlincantriel.com https://www.facebook.com/CelebratingTheLifeOfStanleyE Cook