Jon Robert Cook

Jon Robert Cook died peacefully from complications of Parkinson’s Disease on January 23, 2026, with family at his side accompanying him as far as they could through the passage. His vibrant smile and persevering strength will be remembered and missed by the many friends and family who had the joy and honor of sharing this life with him.

Jon was born on December 2, 1950, in the midst of a St. Ignatius, Montana winter, to parents Robert and Karma (Papenfuss) Cook. He grew up under the big Montana sky with sisters Candace and Kathi, brother Richard, and his supportive Papenfuss and Cook families. He played football, ran track, and achieved academics and as a trombone player. He earned his private pilot’s license under his father’s tutelage; a skill that would later help woo his bride.

A scholarship to Brigham Young University and service in the North German Mission developed his faith in Jesus Christ and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which guided his life’s course and augmented his personal values of love, inclusion, and quest to make himself the best person that he could be. Following the example of Jesus, he was a teacher, leader, friend, and provider through both his formal church callings and his daily life. He served as a Home Teacher; branch president and in bishoprics, high councilman in Wenatchee, and stake youth leader, and was an active participant in family history research through much of his life. Whenever there was a call to serve, he answered.

Shortly after returning to Utah to finish a degree in civil engineering, he married Sandra Renee Jeffs on December 22, 1973. She was his perfect match in faithful diligence and joie de vivre. Over the next eight years, they had six children. After graduating from Brigham Young University in 1975, he joined the Navy as an instructor in the Nuclear Power School, achieving rank of lieutenant; and earned his MBA from University of Central Florida. In 1980, he took a position with ALCOA (Aluminum Company of America) in Rockdale, Texas, where he spent twenty years before transferring with the company to Washington state and retiring there in 2005.

Jon missed the mountains of Montana but kept his passion for camping and running. He was proud to finish a marathon within his goal time of 3:45:30. He coached soccer, basketball, and T-ball for his kiddos’ dozens of sports teams over the years. When he couldn’t run anymore, he continued to golf and bike. A passionate and loyal BYU sports fan to his last day, he tuned in to any game of volleyball, basketball, or football.

Music was one of Jon’s most treasured God-given gifts and he dedicated countless hours to singing in choirs and special musical numbers. Our humble childhood home often resonated as his children fell asleep to his voice singing hymns of faith and anthems of glory. His children loved to gather around when he pulled out his guitar for renditions of Marie Osmond, Kenny Rogers, and Simon and Garfunkel.

Jon grew up in the home that his father built for their family and seemed to know how to do everything. As a civil engineer, he confidently embarked on creative building projects including furniture, a playhouse, outbuildings, a doghouse (complete with a porch and shingled roof), and converting unfinished attic space to an additional bedroom.

Parkinson's is a particularly cruel disease to someone so driven to move and create to fulfill the needs and happiness of their family and self. Jon was never one to turn away from a task because it was hard, whether yardwork or home projects, travel, outdoor camping, hiking, biking, fishing, or social events. Sandy’s life was as much affected every day and in every way as his was. With her constant support and their stubborn teamwork, his life was full and active.

His smile and the way in which his entire face would light up in greeting seemed to grow in intensity and enthusiasm over the years. Jon had a natural charm and ease with others. The sincere interest he showed, and easy-going humor easily won friends. And it was a true friendship. He always spoke respectfully and kindly of others and treasures each friend as the unique child of God that they are.

Jon placed high importance on seeking knowledge. When his family was young, dinner conversation could range from geography, Newton’s laws of physics, new vocabulary words in English, or learning to count in German. As his restless body was forced to accept some limitations, his curious mind explored even more avidly. In the last several years, he enrolled in independent study courses on a myriad of subjects relating to science, politics, and religion.

During the years of raising young children in Texas, Jon’s love for travel was manifested in marathon family road trips to the Northwest and other family adventures. As the kids grew up, Jon and Sandy escaped for second honeymoons in Mexico and Hawaii, Jerusalem, Thailand, the East Coast, Alaska, and a Scandinavian cruise. When travel became harder, the focus came back to road trips, fishing and biking in the mountains, and visiting their children and grandchildren for baptisms and graduations in Dallas, Tulsa, Ventura (CA), Springville, Seattle, and Princeton.

Fishing was a passion that reemerged later in life: “There’s nothing like that tug on the end of the line.” He enjoyed both traditional fishing and fly fishing for trout along scenic rivers of Montana, Alaska, Canada, Utah, and Oklahoma, accompanying family members and making new friends along the way.

He is survived by – and will live on in the hearts of – his wife, Sandra Renee (Jeffs) Cook and six children and 12 grandchildren: Charlene Allen, husband Wayne and children Spencer, Savanna and Madison; Jeff and wife Brandi and children Nathan and Natalie; Jeannette and partner Nolan; Pamela Hardy, husband Jeff and children Brianna, Jared, and Ashley; James and wife Lisa and children Ethan, Lilah, Juliet, and Oliver Jon; and David and wife Julianne; Jon’s sister Kathi Allen and husband Dave, and brother Richard and wife Jae Young; and his wonderful Papenfuss and Cook nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He joins his beloved parents Bob and Karma, his sister Candace, and his dear Papenfuss and Cook aunts and uncles who gave lifelong love and support. His loved ones here are certain that he was welcomed by them into the presence of his Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ. Eternal life, love, and peace, with his spirit free to soar, will be his well-earned reward.

Funeral services will be held at 12 noon, Saturday, January 31, 2026 at the Valentine Chapel, 1847 West 2150 South Woods Cross, Utah. Friends may visit family Friday, January 30th from 6-8pm at Lindquist’s Bountiful Mortuary, 727 North 400 East and Saturday, January 31st from 10:30 -11:30 am prior to services at the church. Interment Lakeview Memorial Cemetery.

Services will be live-streamed and may be viewed by scrolling to the bottom of Jon’s obituary page.