Dr. Howard J. "Doc" Cook

Howard J. Cook September 05, 1925 – June 14, 2018 Dr. Howard “Doc” Cook, DMV, was reunited with his beloved wife Shari on Thursday. Howard passed away at the Three Pillars Senior Living Community in Dousman, WI with his family at his bedside. Howard was born in Fort Atkinson, WI and was raised on his family’s mink farm. At the time there were few veterinarians, and each day that he worked with his father was an opportunity for him to learn to provide care to the animals, develop his lifelong love of animals, and inspired him to become a veterinarian as an adult. Howard served as an officer in the Army during World War II and was stationed in Japan. After breaking his back, ribs and jaw in a training accident, he was told he would never walk again. As a testament of his desire to persevere, Howard made a full recovery and eventually returned to Wisconsin. It was there that he became smitten with his sister’s best friend Shari Mussehl, and the two fell in love and were married. Howard and Shari relocated to Minnesota where he would complete his education at the University Minnesota School of Veterinarian Medicine. It was during his final year of school that their first son Thomas K. Cook was born; they later welcomed a second son, Stephen J. Cook, and their daughter Patricia A. (Cook) Schmitt. The family relocated to Dousman, WI in the 1950s where Howard became a partner at the Waukesha Animal Hospital. He specialized in caring for horses and cows, but cared for all animals and even had the privilege of caring for animals at the Milwaukee County Zoo. He also helped develop the Humane Animal Welfare Society’s first shelter in Waukesha. Howard loved horses and even owned a few sulky race horses over the years, so the family would travel to the track in Illinois where they were allowed to wager $1 each per race. In addition to being a veterinarian, Howard was also a successful real estate and stock investor, philanthropist, Freemason, and world traveler. He joined the Masonic Lodge in Dousman in the 1960s and was also a member of the Lions Club, the American Legion and the Optimist Club. He donated to and volunteered at numerous organizations including the Minocqua Wildlife Center, Three Pillars Masonic Retirement Community, scholarship programs, and other charities that were close to his heart. Howard and Shari retired to Tomahawk, WI in the 1980s and they took great joy in spending time with their family. Howard enjoyed watching his grandchildren and later great-grandchildren learn and play. He loved to teach them about nature and all kinds of outdoor sports and activities, but also made sure that they inherited his sweet tooth by treating them to frozen custard and doughnuts. Howard recognized the importance of an education and assured that all of his grandchildren had the opportunity to go to college, and he helped them experience other cultures by taking the extended family and trips and cruises all over the world. Howard was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years Shari, his parents Rose and Howard Cook, sister Colleen Zehfus, sons Thomas and Stephen Cook, and grandson Joey. He is survived by his daughter Patricia (Joseph) Schmitt; granddaughters Amy Cook (Cameron Kurth), Elizabeth (the late Matthew) Berndt, Katherine (Kyle) Nobui, Lauren Cook; and grandson Anthony (Katherine) Schmitt. He is also survived by step-grandchildren Josh (Alicia) Williams and Jacob Williams; great-grandsons Owen Stackhouse, Shawn and Henry Schmitt; step great-grandchildren Megan, Katelyn and Jayden Williams; and daughters-in-law Diane Hegwood and Patricia Dunn. A visitation will be held on Thursday, June 21, 2018 at Pagenkopf Funeral Home (1165 E Summit Ave, Oconomowoc) from 4 pm until 7 pm. A memorial service will be held on Friday, June 22, 2018 at Ewald Chapel in Three Pillars (375 State Road 67, Dousman) at 11 am with a visitation starting at 10 am until time of service. A burial at Lake View Cemetery in Fort Atkinson will take place at 3 pm on Friday, June 22. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Humane Animal Welfare Society of Waukesha or to Wild Instincts in Rhinelander. The family would like to give special thanks to the staff at Three Pillars at Compass Point, to Jodi and to Allay Home Hospice for the loving care shown to Howard.