Fred Cook

Fred Samuel Cook was born on June 14th 1962 in Gardner, KS to parents Gayle Eugene Cook and Rose Marie Newland Cook and passed away in the early hours of October 12th 2023 in his home in Lawrence, KS.

He also lived in Osage, Kansas when he was young where his mother worked as a school teacher and his father worked as a chiropractor.  He was active in boy scouts and the debate team, loved woodworking and gardening and woke up early to deliver the newspapers around town in the morning.  He graduated from Osage City High School in 1980 as salutatorian. 

He attended the University of Kansas in Lawrence and earned a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science in 1987.  While he was at school he married Amy Sue Olson at Central United Methodist Church in Lawrence, KS on November 24th 1982.  Fred welcomed five children, Samantha Sue (MunLai ) Cook Chong, Gardner, KS; Eric Eugene Cook, Lawrence, KS; David Samuel (Martika) Cook, Kansas City, KS; Isaac Benjamin Cook, Lawrence, KS; and Maxwell Paul Cook, Lawrence, KS.  He also had several foster children throughout his life including Alexxus Martinez, Kansas City, KS.  He was a dedicated father and husband who loved his family and was loved by his family.  He spent his evenings reading stories to his children and teaching them about math, science, faith and God and his weekends teaching them to ride bikes, garden and making pancakes for them.    

While he was in college he worked for the United States Geological Survey (1987-1990), after graduating from KU he worked on software for point of sale devices at ACI (1987-1990), wireless phone activation and configuration software development at GTE (1990) and network design at Sprint (1991-2007).  He earned his master’s degree in business administration in 1993 from Baker while working at Sprint.  While working at Sprint Fred also patented 72 inventions and had many colleagues he enjoyed collaborating with and was fond of.

Later in life he was disabled and struggled greatly for many years always showing courage, bravery and kindness to others even when life was difficult for him. 

Fred is preceded in death by his brother, Charles Robert Cook; and his parents, Rose Marie and Gayle Eugene Cook.  Fred has two surviving siblings, Gaylene Rose Tunison, Austin, Texas; and Theodore Ray Cook, MD (Karolyn, MD), Spring Hill, Kansas.  Fred’s grandchildren are: Elijah Yi Chong , Gardner, KS; and Charlotte Xuan Ruo Chong , Gardner, KS. 

Visitation will be at Lamb-Roberts-Price Funeral Home in Baldwin City, KS, on Thursday, October 26, 2023 from 6:00-8:00 pm. The funeral service will be at Ives Chapel United Methodist Church in Baldwin City, KS on Friday, October 27, 2023 at 10:30 am. Interment will be at the Sutton Cemetery 1201 N 300 Rd in Baldwin City, KS following the funeral. 

Memorial contributions may be made to Ives Chapel, the United Methodist Church, the American Red Cross, or Baker University and sent in c/o the Lamb-Roberts-Price Funeral Home, P.O. Box 64, Baldwin City, KS 66006. Condolences may be sent to the family through www.lamb-roberts.com.

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