Katherine O. Cook

Katherine O. Cook, 91, died on February 26th after several years of heart problems. A funeral service will be held Saturday, March 7, 2026, at 11:30 AM at the Sharon Center United Methodist Church north of Kalona. Burial will follow at the Sharon Center Methodist Cemetery. The family will greet friends from 10 AM until 11:15 AM at the church. A memorial fund has been established for Sharon Center United Methodist Church or Pleasantview Home. The Beatty Peterseim Funeral Home is assisting the family.

She was born in China on February 18, 1935, a daughter of medical missionaries. After spending WWII in the U.S., they returned to China until the Communist revolution in the late 1940’s when they moved to Kansas permanently. Kathy entered Park College in 1952 and graduated with a degree in Home Economics in 1956. She worked in the Kansas City area as a medical technician for several years where she met and married Robert Cook in 1961. After his medical training was complete, they moved to Washington DC for his military obligation and later to the Cleveland area.

During those years they were blessed with three children, and in addition to raising the growing family, Kathy found time and energy to earn a master’s degree in elementary education. In 1977 the family moved to the Iowa farm which has been home ever since. Although Kathy had no background in farming, she accepted the farm environment as an adventure and immediately participated in the community. She was soon raising chickens, feeding hogs and chasing the cows out of the neighbor’s cornfield as well as playing piano for the church and taking organ lessons.

Kathy has been a warm and loving mother and community resource wherever she lived. She has been active in both church and other community-based organizations with special attention to young people but accepting of all and helpful to many. She was a 4H leader for many years, a youth group leader at her church, and contributed to many other organizations. Kathy loved music and spent 20 years as the church organist. She was fascinated by history and avidly read long books about the history of WWII.

Kathy is survived by her husband Robert, sister Margaret Bailey, children Lisa (Alec) Scranton and Douglas (Teresa) Cook, five grandchildren, Gregg (Meryl) Scranton, Audrey (Chenthu) Jayton, Ronan Adrian Walker, Alexis Cook and Lawson Cook, great granddaughter Khavya Jayton and a special niece. She is also survived by niece Ellen (Geoff) Warner and great-niece Sarah (Ty) Warbucks. Kathy was pre-deceased by her parents Ted and Helen Oltman, brothers Mac and Bobby, and son Mark.