Richard G. Cook

Richard “Skip” Cook, fondly known as Mr. Birchwood, passed away on Tuesday, August 11, 2020, after a long battle with cancer. Skip was born May 1, 1936, to Herman and Pauline Cook.

He was preceded in death by his son David, and his parents, Herman and Pauline. He is survived by his loving wife, Carol; his sons, Tim Cook and Jeff Rodgers; his daughter, Cyndi and Bill Sienko; his grandchildren, Adam Cook, Allie and Austin Hirt, Ryan Baranoski and Alicia Snow, Tyler Baranoski and Jacob Rodgers; his brother and sister-in-law, David and Nancy Cook, his sister and brother-in-law, Connie and Derek Hansen, and many nieces and nephews.

Skip graduated from Bowling Green University. After college, he and his brother, started one of the nation’s largest hardware distributors, L.G. Cook Distributing, where he retired from. Skip never met a stranger and made friends wherever he went. He was a very active member of his Birchwood Farms Golf Community in Harbor Springs, and spent winters at Eagle Creek in Naples, Florida. He was a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather, and will be missed greatly by many.  In addition to family and friends, Skip enjoyed boating, entertaining and golf (including formation of Skippy Golf).

A celebration of life ceremony will be held at a future date. Those who wish to make memorial contributions, please do so to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Please share your memories and personal messages with the family at www.gaylordfuneralhome.com