Rita Kay Cook

Rita Kay Cook, age 88, of Hanover, IL, passed away Saturday, February 1, 2025, at the Galena Stauss Nursing Home, Galena, Illinois. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 22, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Elizabeth, with Pastor Mike Nesbit officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. A luncheon, provided by the Ladies Guild, will follow the service. Burial will be in Dubuque Memorial Gardens, Dubuque, Iowa. The family requests no flowers. A memorial fund has been established in Rita’s name for, Safe Haven in Elizabeth.

Rita was born January 26, 1937, in Wards Grove Township, the daughter of the late LaVerne and Golda (Thomasson) Starr. Rita attended school in Lena, Illinois, graduating with the Class of 1954. She married Eugene Diestelmeier and they raised a family together. Rita later married Michael Cook on February 20, 1983, in Hanover, Illinois.

Rita volunteered as a leader during the time her daughters were in Girl Scouts. She worked many years in food service, waitressing at The Corral in Elizabeth, Illinois, and Charlie’s in Hanover, Illinois, and she and Mike owned and operated Joe’s Tex Mex in Hanover, Illinois, for many years. Rita and Mike enjoyed working with the Girot Race Team and following the River Ridge Wildcats; attending many home games, especially when their grandchildren were playing. She enjoyed going to the local restaurants in Hanover for coffee or lunch, and to see friends. Playing cards was something Rita looked forward to at family gatherings, and she was quite the animal lover. She treasured the many years she had with her favorite cat, Sally.

Rita is survived by four sons, Rod (Laura) Diestelmeier of Wister, Oklahoma, Rick (Connie) Diestelmeier of Thomson, Illinois, Raymie (Tracy) Diestelmeier of Elizabeth, Illinois, and Robin (Amber) Diestelmeier of Glenwood City, Wisconsin; two daughters, Roxann Schultz of Lena, Illinois and Renee Diestelmeier of Stockton, Illinois; 19 grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren; 10 step-great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

Rita is preceded in death by both parents, LaVerne and Golda Starr; her husband, Mike; an infant daughter, Debra; two grandsons Adam Diestelmeier and Chad Diestelmeier; her brother, Keith Starr; and her sister-in-law, Carole Starr.