February 4, 2014
Richard Allen “Cookie” Cook
Richard Allen “Cookie” Cook, 66, of Cross Plains, was born February 8, 1947, in Birdseye, Ind., the loving son of, John B. and Mae (Partenhemier) Cook. He was raised in Cross Plains, where he attended Benham Grade School and Cross Plains High School.
Cookie was inducted into the United States Army on September 1, 1965, in Cincinnati, Ohio, serving two tours of duty during the Vietnam War as a paratrooper and ground founder. He received the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, the Purple Heart, Parachutist Badge, Air Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal and Army Commendation Medal. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant on August 30, 1968, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Cookie was united in marriage on March 15, 1969, in Canaan, to Anita Marie Smith and to this union arrived a daughter and a son to bless their home. Cookie and Anita shared 45 years of marriage together until his death. After 40 years of service, Cookie retired as a Tool and Dowel Maker in 2008 from Grote Industries Inc. in Madison.
He was a member of the Saint Paul Lutheran Church in Olean, Versailles American Legion Post No. 173 in Versailles, and the Madison VFW Post No. 1969 in Madison. Cookie will be remembered for his love of hunting, fishing, NASCAR Tony Stewart, riding horses and dirt track racing.
Cookie died on Friday, January 31, 2014, at 11:45 a.m. at his residence in Cross Plains.
Cookie will be missed by his wife of 45 years: Anita Marie (Smith) Cook of Cross Plains; daughter: Christy Orwig (Bill) of Versailles; son, Richard Cook, Jr. of Cross Plains; mother, Mae (Partenhemier) Cook of Cross Plains; grandchildren: Andrew, Craig, Steven, Shenna and Shaylena; great grandchildren, Connor and Rayne; sister, Carolyn Hammons of Canaan; niece, Tracy Taylor; and nephew, Brent Hammons. He was preceded in death by his father: John B. Cook.
Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, February 5, at 1 p.m., by Rev. Jerry Brooks at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre, Madison. A final salute will be held at 1:30 at the funeral home. Interment will follow in the St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery in Olean. Friends may call Wednesday from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the funeral home.
Full military honors will be held at the cemetery by the Honor Guard of the Versailles American Legion Post No. 173 at the Saint Paul Lutheran Cemetery in Olean. Memorial contributions may be made to Disabled American Veterans. Cards are available at the funeral home. Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre, Madison, is in charge of arrangements.
Eleanor Margaret Selmeyer
Eleanor Margaret Selmeyer, 91, of Dillsboro, passed away Saturday morning, February 1, 2014 at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati. Eleanor was born June 1, 1922 in Ohio County to William Fredrick Cutter and Flora Marie Vornheder Cutter.
She attended Downy Ridge School and graduated from Rising Sun High School in the class of 1938. On February 15, 1947, she was united in marriage to Clarence William Selmeyer. They resided in Aurora for a few years, and then moved to Dillsboro, where she has resided her entire life.
She was an active member of St. Peters Lutheran Church in Bear Branch, and participated in many activities at the church, including playing the organ at the German services. In 1970 she and her husband transferred their membership to Trinity Lutheran Church in Dillsboro.
For 11 years she and her husband performed the custodial duties at the church. She was a faithful member of the church, and was a member of the Altar Guild.
Eleanor worked in the label department at Seagram’s Distillery for 10 years, leaving to raise her children at home. She was a member of the Dillsboro Dozen Home Economics Club and was named homemaker of the year in 1971. She enjoyed cooking, baking pies, and canning and quilting. She was proud of having been able to travel in 48 of the 50 states, and to the Bahamas.
A highlight of her life was attending a taping of ‘The Price is Right”. The past few years Eleanor has been in declining health and spent several months in Ross Manor and Ridgewood Health Center. The past two years she has been cared for in her home by her family members.
On Saturday morning, February 1, 2014 she went home to be with her Lord at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Clarence, in 1999; one sister, Anita Cutter; two brothers, Norman Cutter and Raymond Cutter.
Surviving are her three children, Donald (Ora) Selmeyer, of Dillsboro, Dennis Selmeyer, of Aurora, and Carolyn Selmeyer, of Dillsboro; two grandchildren, Marisa (Kevin) Turner, of Dillsboro, and Justin (Kristen) Selmeyer, of Aurora; two great grandchildren, Katelyn and Molly; one brother, Marvin Cutter, of Dillsboro, and one sister, Marjorie (Harold) Meyer, of Dillsboro.
Funeral services for Eleanor will be Wednesday, February 5 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Dillsboro at 11 a.m. Friends may meet her family Tuesday, February 4 from 5-8 p.m. at DeVries Funeral Home in Dillsboro, and also at the church on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until service time. She will be laid to rest at Oakdale Cemetery in Dillsboro. Memorials may be given to Oakdale Cemetery. DeVries Funeral Home, Dillsboro, is in charge of arrangements.