Gerald "Jerry" Cook

72, of Phoenix, AZ passed away September 6, 2013. Jerry was born in Decatur, IL to Gerald M. Cook and Dorothy (Irwin) Cook. He grew up in Tucson, AZ and while attending Salpointe High School in 1959, he made the decision to pursue a military career in the U.S. Navy and proudly served his country for 22 years retiring as a Photographers Mate First Class. During his service he was assigned to Cuba during the missile crisis and spent 18 months there. He was sent to Vietnam and was assigned to the Commander Naval Forces Photo Lab in Saigon. While in Vietnam he saw plenty of action and took spectacular photographs. He enjoyed his tour of duty in Vietnam and met many Vietnamese people who were "not the enemy just regular citizens". Other assignments were in Alaska, Japan, the Philippines and Miramar, CA. After retiring he returned to Arizona in 1982 and managed the Crown Cards Gifts shop in the former Maryvale Mall in Phoenix and later he and his wife Diane owned JC’s Cards Gifts in the former Bank One building in Phoenix. He was an avid motorcyclist and was a former member of the Venture Touring Society of Arizona.  Survivors include his wife of 27 years, Diane; his sister Carol (Bill) Raper of Peoria; daughters, Cherie Blackwell and her sons Trevor and Nicholas of Florida, Shannon (Mark) McBride and their son Cooper of California; step-children, Kathy (Peder) Strand and Christine (Ken) Krull, Leroy Bowens; nieces Debbie (Tom) Perez and Paula (Steve) Stultz and their families. Step-grandchildren: Jennifer and Nick Lose, Carter Schrage, 3 great-grandchildren and brothers-in-law Skip Dave Miesel. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2013 at Menke Funeral & Cremation Center, 12420 N. 103rd Ave., Sun City, AZ. Funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m.Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013 at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 6180 W. Utopia Rd., Glendale, AZ. Interment with military honors will follow at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona. A wonderful husband, brother, father, uncle, step-father, grand-father, friend and neighbor, we will miss you and always love you. Jerry was an animal lover and advocate for veterans, so please consider a donation in memory of Jerry to your favorite pet or veteran’s charities.