DELAVAN – Phyllis (DeGroote) Cook passed away peacefully January 3rd with her husband by her side. She died following a stroke. Phyllis was born January 31, 1944 in Rockford, IL to Fred K. DeGroote and Doris (Mann) DeGroote. A member of Rockford West High School class of ’62, she graduated from Illinois State University in 1967 with a MS Degree in Education. She taught special education classes in Garden Grove, CA and lived in Orange, CA, and Bozeman, MT before returning to Rockford in the 1970’s.
She was involved for many years in the adult literacy effort in the Rockford area. She volunteered at many of the annual Rockford events in the 70s and 80s, including the Greenwich Art Fair and On the Waterfront.
Phyllis married Dennis Cook in 1997 and moved to Delavan, Wisconsin. She joined the Delavan Service League and enjoyed many of the fundraising activities, the Bridge Marathon and especially her friendships with other members. Along with a group of other community volunteers, she was instrumental in raising funds for the construction of Andy’s Park in Delavan.
Phyllis always had a special place in her heart for her kitties, including her surviving cat, Tootsie. Other survivors include her beloved husband Dennis, of Delavan; nieces Felicia (Mark) Schmidt, of Richmond, MI, and Jeanie Parro, of Houston, TX; stepsons, Tim, Matt (Meredith), and Peter (Michelle) Cook, of Milwaukee; granddaughters, Samantha and Natalie Cook, of Milwaukee; and step-niece, Gail (David) Sands, of Deforest, WI.
Phyllis is preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Judie Cady.
Per Phyllis’s request, there will be no service. Private family burial will take place at a later date.
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