Delmer Cyril "Del" Cook

Delmer Cyril "Del" Cook, 78, passed away peacefully in his home on February 7, 2025, in Overland Park, Kansas.

Born on June 2, 1946, in Syracuse, Kansas, Del dedicated his life to faith, family, and hard work. He earned both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Pittsburg State University before embarking on a 30-year teaching career in the Shawnee Mission School District as a wood shop instructor. Remarkably, despite working with power tools daily, he proudly retained all of his fingers—a testament to his skill and emphasis on safety.

Beyond the classroom, Del spent summers driving asphalt dump trucks to provide extra income for family vacations. After retiring from teaching, he continued his career as a Safety Director with SKC Electric and Faith Technologies for another decade. His work ethic was unmatched; he was never unemployed a single day of his adult life until retirement.

Del had a deep love for music and played bass guitar in the Last Chance Band for 40 years. They played lots of shows in the Kansas City area over that time including many of his son Robert’s Special Olympics dances, the Crown Center Summer Concert Series opening for the national act Firefall, and his son Max and Rayane’s wedding reception. He was also an avid outdoorsman who found joy in hunting and fishing. This was pretty easy for Del because he usually had ALL of the luck in the boat and was a fantastic shot in the field. A fierce competitor at the poker table, he enjoyed games with friends and was a passionate supporter of the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals—though he often had strong opinions about the referees.

Faith played a central role in Del’s life. He attended Knox Presbyterian Church regularly, participated in Bible studies, and prayed faithfully for his loved ones. His belief in Christ guided him throughout his life, shaping him into an encouraging, hardworking, caring, and charismatic individual who left a lasting impact on those around him.

Del was married to his first wife, Jane Cook (Beach), for 42 years until her passing. He later found love again with Joan Cook (Speidel), whom he shared 12 wonderful years with until his passing. He is survived by his wife Joan; sons Robert Cook and Max Cook (Rayane); grandchildren Elliott Cook and Lila Cook; brother Daryle Cook (Chi); and sister Patty Hamilton. He was preceded in death by his first wife Jane; parents Carmon and Opal Cook; brother Darvan Cook; and sister Lela May Urban.

A memorial service will be held at 4:00pm on Thursday, February 13, 2025, at Knox Presbyterian Church, located at 9595 W 95th Street in Overland Park, Kansas. 

Del’s legacy of dedication to faith, family, and hard work will be cherished by all who knew him. In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make donations to Knox Presbyterian Church or Samaritan’s Purse in Del’s honor.