Jesse Vanderveer Cook peacefully entered the gates of heaven from the home of his daughter in Wylie, Texas on January 22, 2023 at the age of 100. Mr. Cook was born and raised in Red Bank, NJ where he was an active community member. He enlisted in the Marine Corps at the age of 20 and served in the South Pacific during WWII attaining the rank of Private First Class. After his honorable discharge he met his wife of 74 years and they raised four children. He served as a Red Bank Police Officer for 28 years rising to the rank of sergeant, an Exempt Member and Ex-Captain of the Relief Engine Company of the Red Bank Fire Department and Boy Scout leader for Troop 17 in Red Bank, NJ. After retirement from the police department they moved to Toms River, NJ where he continued to serve his community as a security guard for Community Medical Center and volunteer with the Holiday City Berkeley First Aid Squad. They moved to Texas 12 years ago to live with their youngest daughter and her family.
He is predeceased by his beloved wife, Florence (Williams), parents, Benjamin and Rose Cook and his daughter Deborah Fuchs.
He leaves behind his daughter, Peggy Melton (Lee) of Wylie TX with whom he lived, daughter, Nancy Cook of Pittsburgh PA, and his son, Kenneth Cook (Kathleen) of Lanoka Harbor, NJ. He has nine grandchildren, Tim Kennedy of Texas, Kathleen Mulkerin (Bill) of Pennsylvania, David Fuchs (Jenine) of Florida, Peter Fuchs of Pennsylvania, Aimee and Mathew Melton of Texas, Stephen and Sean Cook of NJ and Ashley (Matthew) Salter of Alabama. He has four great grandchildren, Abigail Grone, Joseph Kennedy, Holden Fuchs, and Luke Salter; numerous nieces, nephews, loving family members and friends.
Many thanks to all the caregivers who cared for Jesse and blessed him with their love and support over the years, especially Catherine Kester and Kanyi Muraguri.