Evelyn Arlene Cook

Evelyn Arlene Cook, age 93, of Chadwick, Illinois, died Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at Manor Court Long-Term Care Facility, Freeport, Illinois. A funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 16, 2009 at Hope United Methodist Church, Chadwick with Pastor Melwyn Alagodi and Pastor Dave Davies officiating. A time of gathering will be held, one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will take place in Chadwick Cemetery, Chadwick. Memorials may be given to Hope United Methodist Church in Evelyn’s memory. Evelyn was born on September 28, 1915, the daughter of Charles and Adah (Buck) Schreiner in Chadwick, Illinois. She graduated from Chadwick High School with the Class of 1933. Evelyn attended Shimer College in Mount Carroll for two years, where she received her teaching certificate. Evelyn married Claude B. Cook on May 12, 1937 in Chadwick. Claude died on April 16, 1976. After graduation from college, Evelyn taught at Fairhaven Country School for several years. In 1943 Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed her as the first woman Postmaster in Chadwick. Evelyn was a compassionate woman, who loved taking care of her family. She was a member of the Chadwick Women’s Club and the Hope United Methodist Church. Evelyn was an unconditional Cub fan whose unwavering devotion to the team defied a century of disappointments on the field. She went to several Cub games over the years including a game with Atlanta in 1995 that she watched with family and friends from a sky box at Wrigley Field in celebration of her 80th birthday. Her last visit to Wrigley was in September 1999 to see the Cub's Team of the Century Celebration. Evelyn was an exceptional cook, known for her prize winning Dutch Apple Pie. She also enjoyed her flower gardens and crocheting dishcloths and potholders. Evelyn will be dearly missed by her son, Frank (Louise) Cook of Freeport; one daughter in-law, Diane (Steve) Frankeberger of Mount Carroll; four grandchildren, Monica (Kurt) Cook-Sunderman of Chicago, Illinois, Jessica Cook of Sterling, Illinois, Melinda (Chris Behmer) Cook of Chicago, and Caitlin Cook of Freeport; and one great granddaughter, Ruby Behmer. Evelyn is preceded in death by her husband, Claude; one son, Fredric; two brothers, Lloyd and Roy; and one sister, Regena.