Obituary of Bruce Cook

Bruce F. Cook, of Whitefish, Montana, formerly of Manlius, New York, passed away August 20, 2015 at age 84. The son of the late Joseph and Esther Cook, he was born December 11, 1930 at 3904 Oran Gulf Rd, Manlius, NY, where he continued to live for 79 years. After graduation from Manlius High School, he married Anna Mae Cook in 1952 and operated a dairy farm in partnership with his parents until 1956 when a fire claimed their barn, cattle and equipment. Prices did not support total replacement of their losses, so Bruce built a smaller barn for his father to continue farming while he took a job as a night shift welder for the Prosperity Co. in Syracuse. During the day he started and operated his own bulldozing and backhoe business. After 3 years, his business, Bruce F. Cook Contracting, had grown enough to allow him to leave his night job. During this period, he also drove school bus. Bruce was eventually joined in his business by daughter Debbie Slocum and her husband Everette. Bruce was a skilled mechanic and enjoyed restoring antique John Deere tractors. He was a lifelong member of Oran Community Church and served as a Trustee. He was a Town of Pompey Board member for 25 years, serving several years as Deputy Supervisor. He was a Charter member of The Land Improvement Contractors of America (LICA), a former director and President of the NY State Chapter, and was LICA Contractor of the Year. Bruce was also a member of the Farm Bureau and the Delphi Grange. In September of 2009, Bruce and Anna moved to Whitefish, Montana to be near their daughter Brenda, and her family. In Whitefish, he was active at the Whitefish Community Center, attending lunch there daily. Bruce was preceded in death by his loving wife of 57 years, Anna, in 2009. He is survived by son David B. Cook (Deborah), daughter Deborah A. Slocum (Everette), and daughter Brenda C. Guzman (Aaron), grandchildren Corinne Bingham (Allen), Sarah Bergkamp (Jonathan), Allison Roland (Jason), Amelia Slocum, Patrick Grandinetti, Anna Guzman, and Carlos Guzman, and great-grandchildren Mackenzie Roland and David Bingham. A calling hour will be held from 1 to 2 p.m., Friday, August 28th with services to follow at Michael E. Brown Funeral Services, 2333 Fenner Road, Cazenovia, NY. Burial will be in Manlius Village Cemetery, followed by a reception at the Oran Community Church. Memorials may be sent to the Oran Community Church, PO Box 311, Manlius, NY 13104 or Pompey Historical Society, 8354 Rte 20, Manlius, NY 13104.