Charles Francis Cook

Charles was born on June 11, 1921 and passed away on Saturday, March 11, 2017. Charles was a resident of Brandon, South Dakota at the time of his passing. He served in WWII as a combat engineer. Charlie was deployed twice to the Korean War. He served our country stateside during the Vietnam War. Charlie retired honorably after spending 27 years in the Army and reaching the rank of Command Sergeant Major/E9, the highest ranking of an enlisted serviceman. He was married to Alvy (Connie) Cook. Funeral Services will be 1:00 PM, Wednesday, March 15, 2017, at the Black Hills Funeral Home, Sturgis, SD. Interment will follow at the Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis, SD. Charles Francis Cook Cook, Charles_squ June 11, 1921 ~ March 11, 2017 Charles (Charlie) Francis Cook, 95, died peacefully at the Bethany Nursing Home in Brandon, SD; a husband, father, friend, and veteran of World War II, Korean, and Vietnam War. Funeral Services will be 1:00 PM, Wednesday, March 15, 2017, at the Black Hills Funeral Home, Sturgis, SD. Interment will follow at the Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis, SD. Charlie was born June 11, 1921 in Midland, SD to Francis and Mary Cook. His family moved to Bushnell, SD, where he attended grade school. After graduating from Brookings High School in 1939, he began his military service. He started his Army career by joining the CCC's (Civilian Conservation Corp), followed by joining the National Guard. His National Guard Unit was deployed in 1941. He served in WWII as a combat engineer. Charlie was deployed twice to the Korean War. He served our country stateside during the Vietnam War. Charlie retired honorably after spending 27 years in the Army and reaching the rank of Command Sergeant Major/E9, the highest ranking of an enlisted serviceman. After service retirement, Charlie and longtime friend and comrade, Frank Branaugh, started the Yankton Disabled American Veteran's Chapter. He was the Yankton County Service Officer and also served as State Commander (1976), and was a lifetime member of the DAV and the VFW. As a natural businessman, he and his wife, Carol owned and operated the Army Navy Outlet store in Yankton for 7 years. In 1985, together, they moved to Rapid City where they owned and operated 2 motels until final formal retirement in 1990. They spent the next 27 years enjoying traveling, and spending time with family. Charlie passed on his love of hunting to his sons and grandsons, which they enjoyed together. Charlie and Carol moved to Brandon Bethany Meadows Retirement Center in 2011. He is survived by his wife Carol, his sons Alvy (Connie) Cook, Las Vegas, NV, Danny Wegner, Rapid City, SD, his daughters, Debra (Rick) Fleming, Omaha, NE, Cathy (Jon) Robinson, Denver, CO, his sister, Vivian (Elmer) Kiecksee, Brandon, SD and brother Clarence (Natalie) Cook, Boston, MA. He leaves 9 loving grandchildren: Kelly and Nick Cook, Ryan (Kelsey), Jake, and Adam Wegner, Danielle and Dylan Schmidt, and Michael and Aryn Robinson. Charlie is preceded in death by his parents, son Dennis Cook and his mother, Gladys Cook, granddaughter Alyson Schmidt, 2 brothers and 2 sisters. All are thankful for sharing his life and will cherish his memory. A kind and loving soul will be entering Heaven. A special thanks to the caretakers at Bethany Nursing Home, Brandon, SD. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be presented to the Sioux Falls D.A.V. in Charlie's memory.