Obituary of Donald Lee Cook

Donald Lee Cook, 89, peacefully passed away at his home in Osage Beach, Missouri on Friday, September 29, 2023.

Don was born on February 1, 1934 in Unionville, Missouri, the son of Mary Katheryn (Davis) Cook and
Eustace B. Cook and brother of Jerry Lou (Cook) Potter, who preceded him in death. Don is survived by
his wife Myrna (Larimer) Cook of 63 years and his two children: Scott D. Cook of Osage Beach, Missouri and Cynthia G. (Cook) MacKenzie (Michael) of Pasadena, Maryland. Three grandchildren: Samantha MacKenzie of Severna Park, Maryland, Christopher MacKenzie of San Antonio, Texas and Maximus Donlee Cook of Osage Beach, MO

Mr. Cook Graduated from Unionville High School in 1952 and entered the U. S. Air Force, serving in the
Alaska Air Command until 1956. Don attended and graduated from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1959.

He worked as a District Salesman & Manager for Farmers Insurance Company for 6 years until his
employment in 1965 with United Federal Saving Bank in Des Moines, Iowa. He became the President
and CEO of United Federal until his retirement in 1990. Later he became a Realtor in Des Moines before
moving to the Lake of the Ozarks.

Don was a Rotarian both in Des Moines and the Lake of the Ozark Rotary. He also served as President of the Polk County-Des Moines Taxpayers Association, was a board member of the Des Moines Chamber of Commerce, Des Moines Symphony, Salvation Army, President of the Des Moines Riverfront YMCA and the Iowa Savings Association.

Don moved to the Lake of the Ozarks, with his wife Myrna, in 1997. During which time they became active real-estate Broker Sales Associates and opened their own brokerage (Homes and Condos Cook
Realty), later joining Keller Williams until his retirement in 2022.

Dons’ main hobby and passion was flying. He loved to fly his WWI Biplane to local fly-ins and enjoyed
being a Colonel in the Confederate Air Force at Harlingen, Texas, where he flew T-34 Trainers. Don also
held a commercial pilot’s license for over 40 years for nearly every type of airplane and helicopter, until
his heart condition made it unsafe to continue to fly. He was the author of the novel, Cooke-Air Merc.
Don was very athletic, not only in his youth, but throughout his life. He was an avid exerciser. He enjoyed not only exercising daily at a local fitness club and at home.

He was a member of the Christ the King Lutheran Church, Lake Ozark, Missouri.

Services to honor the life of Don will be held on Saturday, October 7, 2023, with a visitation begining at 10:00am and services starting at 11:00am at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Lake Ozark, Missouri, followed by Inurnment at Lake Memorial Gardens in Osage Beach, Missouri.