from the USTA Communications Department

Columbus, OH — Howard “Doc” Cook, DVM, 92, died June 14, 2018, at the Three Pillars Senior Living Community in Dousman, Wis., with his family at his bedside.

Dr. Cook was born in Fort Atkinson and was raised on his family’s mink farm. At the time there were few veterinarians, and each day that he worked with his father was an opportunity for him to learn to provide care to the animals, develop his lifelong love of animals, and inspired him to become a veterinarian as an adult.

He served as an officer in the Army during World War II and was stationed in Japan. After breaking his back, ribs and jaw in a training accident, he was told he would never walk again. As a testament of his desire to persevere, he made a full recovery and eventually returned to Wisconsin. It was there that he became smitten with his sister’s best friend, Shari Mussehl, and the two fell in love and were married.

Howard and Shari relocated to Minnesota where he would complete his education at the University of Minnesota School of Veterinarian Medicine. It was during his final year of school that their first son, Thomas, was born; they later welcomed a second son, Stephen, and their daughter, Patricia Schmitt.

The family relocated to Dousman in the 1950s where Dr. Cook became a partner at the Waukesha Animal Hospital. He specialized in caring for horses and cows, but cared for all animals and even had the privilege of caring for animals at the Milwaukee County Zoo. He also helped develop the Humane Animal Welfare Society’s first shelter in Waukesha.

He loved horses and even owned a few Standardbreds over the years, so the family would travel to the track in Illinois where they were allowed to wager $1 each per race.

In addition to being a veterinarian, he was also a successful real estate and stock investor, philanthropist, Freemason, and world traveler. He joined the Masonic Lodge in Dousman in the 1960s and was also a member of the Lions Club, the American Legion and the Optimist Club. He donated to and volunteered at numerous organizations including the Minocqua Wildlife Center, Three Pillars Masonic Retirement Community, scholarship programs, and other charities that were close to his heart.

Howard and Shari retired to Tomahawk in the 1980s and they took great joy in spending time with their family. Dr. Cook enjoyed watching his grandchildren and later great-grandchildren learn and play. He loved to teach them about nature and all kinds of outdoor sports and activities, but also made sure that they inherited his sweet tooth by treating them to frozen custard and doughnuts. He recognized the importance of an education and assured that all of his grandchildren had the opportunity to go to college, and he helped them experience other cultures by taking the extended family on trips and cruises all over the world.

Dr. Cook was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Shari; parents, Rose and Howard; sister, Colleen Zehfus; sons, Thomas and Stephen; and grandson, Joey. He is survived by his daughter, Patricia (Joseph) Schmitt; granddaughters, Amy (Cameron Kurth), Elizabeth (the late Matthew) Berndt, Katherine (Kyle) Nobui, and Lauren; grandson, Anthony (Katherine) Schmitt; step-grandchildren, Josh (Alicia) Williams and Jacob Williams; great-grandsons, Owen Stackhouse, Shawn Schmitt and Henry Schmitt; step-great-grandchildren, Megan Williams, Katelyn Williams, and Jayden Williams; and daughters-in-law, Diane Hegwood and Patricia Dunn.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Humane Animal Welfare Society of Waukesha or to Wild Instincts in Rhinelander.