Courtney F Cook

Courtney F. Cook, 82, of Rock Island, IL, passed away Sunday, July 3, 2022, at Silver Cross Nursing Home, Rock Island.

A funeral service will be 2:00 pm on Saturday, July 16, 2022, at Wendt Funeral Home, Moline, with visitation from 1:30-2:00 pm before the service. Burial will be at Rock Island Memorial Cemetery, Rock Island.

Courtney was born to Fred and Lucille Cook, on September 29, 1939, in Moline, IL. He graduated from Rock Island High School. He attended the University of Illinois and Augustana College, majoring in Chemistry. He earned his Ph.D. at the University of Iowa with an assistantship in Physical Chemistry. His thesis was on Infrared Spectrometry. He was hired by Phillips Petroleum in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and went on to other companies including AT&T in Chicago, until transferred to Lincroft, New Jersey, where he retired. He was an Ocean County College Chemistry Instructor, senior hike leader, and bus driver for the New Jersey Park System.

Courtney married Eleanor Devinney in 1960, and they had two children, Dr. Lester V. Cook, CA, and Edward A. Cook, who predeceased him at age 27. He has two brothers, Kenton Cook, McKinney, TX, and Kimber Cook, Raleigh, NC, and a sister, Karalee Kleehammer, Tallahassee, FL, along with many nieces and nephews.

After retiring to the Quad Cities in 2000, he joined Rotary, Blackhawk Hiking Group, and the Tuesday Group Hikers. He was an avid hiker and biker who enjoyed the German language, traveling to Germany and building telescopes. Courtney was an Eagle Scout, a member of the Middletown Shade Tree Commission, the Astronomy Club, and St. James Lutheran Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Arbor Day Foundation or the Audubon Society or a charity of your choice.

Family and friends may express condolences at wendtfuneralhome.com