Marie C Cook

Marie C. Cook, 92, of  Cedar Falls, died Friday, March 25, 2011 at Allen Memorial Hospital in Waterloo.  She was born December 21, 1918 in Cedar Falls, Iowa, the daughter of John and Ruth (Livingston) Casey. Marie attended Cedar Falls schools, and received a two year teaching degree from Iowa State Teachers College, after which she taught first and second grade for one year.  She married Herman Cook July 10, 1939 in Cedar Falls. He preceded her in death on May 13, 1997.

Marie always had an interest in art, and credits her aunt Hazel Livingston Engel for encouraging her to draw as a young girl. She enrolled in oil painting classes through the Cedar Falls Art Association, later switching to watercolors. In 1968 Marie met silhouette artist Lorne Rose Diehl through the Waterloo Arts Association. She became Mrs. Diehl's student, and after a year of instruction and practice was able to cut silhouettes. Marie has cut silhouettes of children, adults, and houses. The most unusual silhouette she cut was that of Dolly Parton who stopped by Marie's booth at the Waterloo Cattle Congress. Marie loved doing children's images the most. In November of 2005, the Cedar Falls Historical Society declared her a "Cedar Falls Treasure", and a tree was also planted in her honor at Overman Park. In 2004, she was Grand Marshall of Sturgis Falls.  In February of 2009, Marie was very proud to have her first solo art show at the Hearst Center for the Arts. Throughout her lifetime, Marie held various positions in the many organizations in Cedar Falls.

She is survived by two sons, Joe (Sue) Cook of Cedar Falls and Jude (Monica) Cook of Tucson, Arizona; two daughters, Carol (Jim) Jones of Tucson, and Christine (Bill) Johnson of Robbinsdale, Minnesota; seven grandchildren, Jeff Cook of Iowa City, Kristin (Matt) Odland of Mankato, Minnesota, Erika Cook of Tucson, Arizona, Jennifer (Jim) Rapala of Roselle, Illinois, Travis Jones of St. Cloud, Minnesota, Casey Johnson and Ralegh Johnson both of Robbinsdale, Minnesota; four great grandchildren, Jackson, Andrew, and Benjamin Rapala, and Anika Wirth.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and two sisters, Donna Casey and Arnett Iversen.

A Memorial Mass will be 10:30 am Wednesday, May 25, 2011, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Cedar Falls. Memorials may be directed to the church, Cedar Falls Historical Society or Cedar Valley Hospice.  Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.  Online condolences may be left at www.DahlFuneralHome.com.