Berns William Cook

Berns William Cook, teacher, husband, and father, died December 27, 2009 at age 102 and 10 months. He was ready to meet his Lord. 2 Timothy 4:7: I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.Berns was born Bernice William Koekoek three miles south of Brandon at his parents farm on February 27, 1907. He was the only child of Henry and Ella Koekoek, and grew up speaking only Dutch until he went to kindergarten; he spent two years in kindergarten to become proficient in the English language and be allowed to continue his education.He graduated from Waupun High School in 1926 and from Hope College, Holland, Michigan in 1930. A scholarship in chemistry took him to the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where he received a masters degree in 1931.His first teaching job was at Little Wolf High School in Manawa, Wl. A teaching position followed at Omro High School in 1935. Berns joined the teaching staff at the new South Park Junior High School in Oshkosh in 1940. In June 1943, at the age of 36, Berns teaching career at South Park was interrupted when he was drafted into the Navy.Following his naval tour of duty as a shore patrolman and Philadelphia police liaison, Berns returned to teach science at South Park until his official retirement at age 65 in June 1972. He continued as a substitute teacher on a full-time basis for six years, until 1978, when he retired from teaching for the second time. During the summers, Berns kept busy teaching drivers education, running the boat concession at Menominee Park and working on his construction projects and rental properties. His love of teaching continued even during his retirement years in the Southwestern states, where he served for a number of winters as a National Park naturalist.Berns was active in the formation of the Oshkosh Educational Association (where he was secretary for eight years) as well as in the state and national education associations. Berns held a lifetime certificate to teach any subject in the states of Wisconsin and Michigan.Berns Cook and Gladys Heimke were married on August 30, 1938 in Omro, Wisconsin. In 1946 Berns and Gladys bought a house at 723 Frederick Street and lived there together for 57 years. They were married for 67 years until Gladys death in 2006 at the age of 93. In that home they raised four children: Daniel, Tacoma, WA; Timothy (Cathy), Butte des Morts; Thomas (Mary), Oshkosh; and Lois (Jon) DAleo, Pullman, WA. Berns had 8 grandchildren: Stephanie and David Cook; Carrie Nolde and Craig Cook; Matthew and Aaron Cook; Giana and Raina DAleo; and 4 great grandchildren.Berns and Gladys joined Martin Luther Evangelical Lutheran Church in 1946, where they maintained their membership. He served as the congregational financial secretary for many years. Berns was instrumental in the decision and the financial support to purchase the William Steiger property on Algoma Boulevard for a new church. He was also an integral part of the planning for the new sanctuary. In 1959 he was co-chairman of the construction committee and spent the summer working on the construction as the on site project church representative to the Ben Ganther Construction Company. The beautiful sanctuary, preservation of the old oak tree, and the hearing impaired listening system are the living legacies of Berns and Gladys Cook at Martin Luther Church.In the 1950s, while teaching at South Park Junior High School, Berns decided to make a run for political office as a councilman in his ward. During the election, the City of Oshkosh decided that a city employee could not hold public office in the city and disqualified him from the election. In his typical principled (and sometimes contrarian) nature he continued the race anyway, losing by only a few votes even though the electorate knew he could not serve even if elected.In the early 1970s a small group of people in Oshkosh, including Berns, saw a need in the community for a Christian home for the elderly. As a result, what is now Lutheran Homes of Oshkosh was born. He served on the board from its inception through 1978. It is fitting that Berns and Gladys spent some of the last years of their lives at Gabriels Villa in the care of the organization and people they helped to organize and develop.Following their retirement Berns and Gladys enjoyed their life of camping, traveling throughout the entire United States. They finally settled into becoming winter Texans in the Rio Grande Valley, always returning to their Oshkosh home when the snow melted.As a result of his extraordinary dedication to life and people, many in-the Oshkosh area have experienced the influence of his teaching, learned the value of hard work, and benefited from the support of Berns Cook. He exemplified the can-do attitude. He was always his own man. He was truly one-of-a-kind.We want to thank our parents for all they thought, said, and did for their family. They had an incredible breadth and depth of wisdom, spirit, courage, and inner strength. They openly shared those gifts with their family and for that we are grateful. In the last few years of their lives they were each physically limited by their infirmities, nevertheless their minds were sharp and those attributes continued to be displayed daily in their lives until the end. They were an inspiration to us all to live the God fearing life.2 Timothy 4:8: In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. Funeral services for Berns will be held on Saturday, January 2, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at Martin Luther Ev. Lutheran Church (1526 Algoma Blvd - Oshkosh) with the Rev. Jeff Berg officiating. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. to the service time. Entombment will be at Lake View Memorial Park.

Martin Luther Evangelical Lutheran Church



1526 Algoma Blvd
Oshkosh
WI
54901

Saturday, January 02, 2010
9:00 a.m. to the service time



Martin Luther Evangelical Lutheran Church



1526 Algoma Blvd
Oshkosh
WI
54901

Saturday, January 02, 2010
11:00 a.m.



Lake View Memorial Park



2786 Algoma Blvd
Oshkosh
WI
54901