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Frank Cook

May 27, 2025
Kalamazoo, MI

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Frank Robin Cook parted ways with our world for the great blue yonder at the age of 70 years on the morning of May 27, 2025. He was born October 27, 1954, in Kalamazoo, MI as the first of five children to Frances Cook (Varvir) and Carl Cook.

After Frank's brother and best friend, Randy, was born 1 year and a week after Frank, along came sisters Marie & Pam, and then little brother, Grant. They grew up in a gregarious household full of family and love and tore up their five-block neighborhood with the other neighborhood kids until the streetlights came on.

Frank's father was co-owner of the Phillips 66 station on the corner of Lake & Mills St in Kalamazoo where Frank & his brother Randy (Joe) worked for "fun money." The family settled in Comstock next door to Dickens Inn, a local tavern. Frank & Randy spent weekend mornings cleaning up the place & collecting loose change and dollar bills from where the fights broke out in the parking lot.

In 1972, after attending Comstock High School, Frank enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed stateside at Fort Dix before landing in Germany as a "Wheel Vehicle Mechanic" when the withdrawal of our troops from Vietnam had begun. He was honorably discharged in March 1975.

Known by some as "Rob" and many as "Frank," he loved his family and friends, the Grateful Dead & classic rock, the 1970's, muscle cars, blue jeans & t-shirts, a good concert (his last was Burton Cummings of The Guess Who), and his memories of a 5 week long road trip that included part of Route 66.

Over the last several years, Frank faced some serious health challenges and was blessed to receive an LVAD (heart pump) with superior care from doctors, nurses, and staff at the DeVos Heart & Lung Transplant Center in Grand Rapids, MI. That gave him an additional 38 months of life that he treasured.

In recent months, Frank found a great, supportive group of people at WMU Senior Day Services in Kalamazoo where he enjoyed a variety of activities and interactions with other seniors living with a variety of disabilities. We are grateful to the staff and other seniors that Frank spent time with for the joy they brought to his life.

Frank was preceded in death by his father, Carl E. Cook, stepmother, Linda R. Cook, son, David Cook and his beloved cat, Mary Jane.

Frank is survived by his life partner Susan Bland, sons Tom Cook & Michael Cook (Stacy), grandchildren, David, Anthony, Michael and Jada, his mother Frances Cook, best friend and brother Randy Cook (Phyllis), sisters Pam Landis and Marie Johnson, brother Grant Cook (Tracy), stepsisters Janet Driver (Dan) and Julia Driver (Roy), several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Memorial contributions may be made in honor of Frank Cook to SPCA of Southwest Michigan at 6955 West KL Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49009.

Frank was a registered organ donor through which he became a tissue donor with Gift of Life Michigan in Ann Arbor. The burial will take place at a later date in Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta, MI. The family is planning a memorial celebration to be announced later. Cremation and funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Langeland Family Funeral Homes of Kalamazoo, MI.