Jane Cook

1927 - 2025

Jane Cook

October 7, 1927 - October 17, 2025

Joan Adelle (Hardy) Cook, formerly of Janesville, WI died October 17, 2025 following a brief hospitalization in Colorado Springs, CO. Joan was born an only child to Glen and Hilda Hardy of Mondovi, WI. She grew up on a nearby farm. Joan graduated from Mondovi High School and then attended UW-Eau Claire, graduating in 1949 with majors in speech and English. Upon graduation Joan moved to Janesville and begin her teaching career at Janesville Senior High. She met fellow educator Robert O. Cook; they married in August, 1952. Robert preceded her in death in1984.

Joan taught English in Janesville Public Schools for a total of 25 years, retiring in 1988. She also taught one year in Bozeman, MT while husband Robert pursued his PhD. Joan paused her teaching for 13 years to raise her three children. Community service was a constant in Joan's life. As a young mother, she volunteered with PTA, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Sunday school. Joan and Bob helped establish the JEA Credit Union for educators, and Joan served as its first treasurer. Upon retirement Joan served in leadership roles with Rock County Historical Society, Janesville Area Retired Educators Association, Janesville AAUW, Wisconsin Retired Teachers Association, Janesville Board of Review and Trinity Episcopal Church. She also volunteered at Mercy Hospital.

Joan moved to Eau Claire, WI in 1995 to be closer to her adult children and grandchildren. There she served as Vice President of Wisconsin Retired Educators Association, President of Volunteer Partners, and Chair of West Central District of Wisconsin Hospital Association. Joan served on the boards of the Foundation Leadership Council and the Eau Claire Retired Educators Association, served as a lector at Christ Church Cathedral, and volunteered extensively at Sacred Heart Hospital.

Joan took great pride and delight in spending time with her 10 grandchildren and has been a loving and guiding presence in their lives as they start families of their own. Joan modeled her belief in education, service, and civic engagement for her children and grandchildren. In 2018, Joan moved to Colorado Springs, CO to live the last chapter of life near her youngest daughter.

Joan is survived by her daughter Ann (Cook) Kumm (Randal), son-in-law David Richie and daughter-in-law Sally Cook, her grandchildren Joe Richie (Hanna Middlebrook), Sally (Richie) Piernot (Devon), Ann (Richie) Boston (John), Robert Cook (Amanda), Laura Cook (Jess Palmer), Sam Cook, Bryan Cook, Jon Kumm (Emily Downey), Ellen (Kumm) Kleinmaus (Adam), and Paul Kumm. She is survived by great grandchildren Jack Richie, Joanne, Elaine and Philip Piernot, Michael, Emmett and George Boston, Jade Cook, and Noelle Downey. Joan was preceded in death by her parents, husband Robert, daughter Jeanne (Cook) Richie and son Todd Cook.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Janesville in Summer, 2026. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Robert O. Cook Memorial Arboretum, care of:

https://cfsw.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=4090 or to the American Cancer Society in memory of Jeanne Richie Cook and Todd Cook care of:

https://www.cancer.org/https://cfsw.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=4090