John Henry Cook went to be with the Lord on May 23, 2017. John was the son of Henry and Helen Cook. He was born in Chicago, Aug. 20, 1936. Life centered around faith and family. He developed a love of woodworking from his grandpa, William Prince, a carpenter. John graduated from Chicago Christian High School in 1955 and enlisted in the US Navy where he served in the nuclear weapons program. John was stationed at Sandia Base NM, the USS Forestall, and the Naval Weapons Station at Yorktown VA. In Virginia John met and married Elsie Pomphrey in 1959. The couple lived in Richmond where John worked as a systems analyst for the Bell System. They had 2 children, William Alan and Helen Marie. In 1975, John & Elsie moved to “Hickory Grove” a pre-revolutionary farm in rural Louisa County. They spent the next 7 years renovating the old stage stop into a home. The family raised pigs, cows, chickens, horses and an assortment of dogs and cats that Helen would sneak home. John would milk the cow in the morning, then put on his 3-piece suit to go to work.
In 1982, John drug his family, to the afore unknown land of Montana, where they bought a real “fixer-upper” farm house in Clancy, and served at Calvary Baptist Church in Helena, where John was called to ministry. He was ordained in 1985 and pastored the 1st Baptist Church in Boulder. John & Elsie loved and served the community. They started the Boulder Food Bank, ministered at Riverside Youth Correctional Facility, and John picked-up children in a pink bus, so they could learn that Jesus loves them. During that time, he and the congregation completed the sanctuary, added classrooms and the steeple to the church building. They also built their home on the Little Boulder River -this time they decided to start from scratch. In 1993, John was named Small Church Pastor of the Year by the Southern Baptist Assoc. John & Elsie pastored the church until her death in 1999.
John married Valerie Wilson, and in 2000 began serving as Children’s Pastor at Calvary Baptist. He bought the pink bus for $1.00 to pick-up children on Helena’s Westside. Summers were extra special with his grandchildren helping conduct VBS and Kids’ Camp on Middle Thompson Lake. In 2006, while pastoring at Helena Nazarene Church, a Tanzanian pastor invited John & Val to Africa. While in Tanzania, God gave John a love for the people and a vision of how life and health for the people would be radically changed by access to clean water. In 2008, John founded Compassion Tanzania. At 72, with little knowledge of Swahili, local customs or inherent dangers, he made the first of many trips to fulfill that vision. To date, CT has drilled 60 wells providing over 200K people with access to clean water. May 21, just before he went to be with the Lord, CT started drilling the next 4 wells. To God be the glory!
John was preceded in death by his wife Elsie and his parents. He is survived by his wife Val, his sister Kay (Don) Woo, son, Will (Kay) Cook and daughter Helen (Monty) Auch; grandchildren Beth (Aaron) Thompson, John (Kelsey) Tooley, Erin (Jesse) Shubin; William Cook and Lizzy Cook; Jeremias, Hadassah, Saraliba & Reyna Auch; great-grandchildren Tatiana, Seeley, and Liam; beloved nieces, nephews and cousins, and many friends here and in Africa.
Viewing will take place from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. with the family receiving friends from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 25th at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Ave. A celebration of John Henry’s life will take place at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 27th in the barn at the Kleffner Ranch, 305 Highway 518, East Helena. A private family burial will be held at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery, Fort Harrison. In lieu of flowers memorials in honor of John are suggested to Compassion Tanzania, P.O. Box 239, Helena, MT 59624. Please visit below to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of John.
Service Schedule
Viewing
12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Thursday May 25, 2017
Anderson Stevenosn Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave
Helena, Montana 59602
Family Receiving Friends
5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Thursday May 25, 2017
Anderson Stevenosn Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N Montana Ave
Helena, Montana 59602
Celebration of His Life
12:30 p.m.
Saturday May 27, 2017
Kleffner Ranch
305 Mt. Highway 518
East Helena, Montana 59635
Reception
Following the service
Saturday May 27, 2017
Kleffner Ranch
305 Mt. Highway 518
East Helena, Montana 59635
Service Schedule
Viewing
12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Thursday May 25, 2017
Anderson Stevenosn Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave
Helena, Montana 59602
Family Receiving Friends
5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Thursday May 25, 2017
Anderson Stevenosn Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N Montana Ave
Helena, Montana 59602
Celebration of His Life
12:30 p.m.
Saturday May 27, 2017
Kleffner Ranch
305 Mt. Highway 518
East Helena, Montana 59635
Reception
Following the service
Saturday May 27, 2017
Kleffner Ranch
305 Mt. Highway 518
East Helena, Montana 59635
Share
Maggee says
Blessings to you, Val, and those close to John during this transformational time. Prayers and loving thoughts are with you. Maggee
Kristi J Gregor says
Love and Hugs… We love you guys.. Duane, Kristi and family
Brittany Davis says
Sending prayers, thoughts, and hugs to you Val and your family.
Peggy Fine says
Our thoughts and prayers are with you Val and Joni. He’s building wells in Heaven!
Ray Johnson says
John and I talked about CT many times but on this occasion we talked about the other mission of CT, evangelism. I suggested to John that he should go back to Tanzania and do just that. I can still see his face as he responded with tears filling his eyes ” no I can’t do that now”. He so very much loved the people of Tanzania. His heart broke for them. At that moment it also opened my heart. I love you my brother.
Julie Shubin says
This very loving man was obviously close to God and is at peace now. So we offer our prayers to the family for strength and serenity knowing you will see him in Paradise.
The Shubin Family
Jan and Bob Vogel says
Thinking of you Val during your time of sorrow. Praise God for this amazing man. John touched so many lives here and in Africa. He’ll be missed.
Leon and Marsha Belville says
Dear Val– So sorry to hear of Johns passing. We met him that one time at our cabin on Canyon Ferry lake. We had a very nice visit with him. Our thoughts and prayers to you and family. Leon and Marsha Belville
Dennis & Vicki Roehl says
So sorry for your loss Val. Your loss is heavens gain, as we know John was so eager to meet his master. He and his gentle ways will be missed by so many. Praising God for the ministry John had here and in Africa. Love and Prayers.
A. & M. HERRIGES says
Val & Family, so sorry for your loss! What a wonderful man of God john was. Our prayers & thoughts are with you. Cherish your precious memories of your life together for they are gods blessings to you! Sincerely, Aaron & Maryann Herriges, Kayci & Kaydence
Dave says
Val, may God be with you and your family. John lived a Christ filled life affecting so many here in the states and overseas in God’s service. Glory to God in the highest
Kathi Crocker says
MEMORIES
LAUGHTER
LOVE
The treasures we keep forever. Let those GOOD memories play over and over again I your thoughts and heart.
In deepest sympathy and friendship,
Kathi Crocker