William Cook, 74, died in his home in Austin Wednesday morning, Oct. 14, 2009.

He was born April 8, 1935 to William H. and Dorothy (Gardner) Cook in Kansas City, Kans. The family moved to Iowa, making their home in Osage, where Bill graduated from high school in 1953. He attended Iowa State University in Ames and earned his mechanical engineering degree in 1958. He married Mary Biedermann in August 1956 in Osage. The couple had four children and were later divorced. He married Janice Moum Smaby on July 25, 1987 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Austin where they made their home until the present time. Bill worked for General Electric in various locations before beginning a 33-year career with IBM in Rochester. They have spent several months each year in Arizona since 1997.

A member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and Austin Noon Lions, Bill loved to golf and enjoyed the outdoors and spending time with friends and family.

Survivors include his wife, Janice; four children, William C. (Roxanne) Cook of Rochester, Barbara (Jeffrey) Nelson of Clearwater, Elizabeth (Daniel) Rada of Eagan, Robert (Shirley) Cook of Santa Rosa, Calif.; two step-children, Timothy (Yvonne) Smaby of Onalaska, Wis., Jonathan Smaby of Dallas, Texas; 13 grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; one niece; and two nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother; and one sister.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, Oct. 19, 2009 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Austin with Pastor Glenn Monson officiating. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m., Sunday at Worlein Funeral Home in Austin and at the church one hour prior to the service. Worlein Funeral Home of Austin is in charge of arrangements. Interment is at Rose Creek Enterprise Cemetery, rural Austin. Honorary casket bearers are Dylan Nelson, Spencer Nelson, Jacob Cook, Ben Smaby, Christopher Smaby, Samuel Rada and Bob Rada.

The family prefers memorials to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church Building Fund or Mayo Clinic Cancer Research.
Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.