Rev. James Cook Obituary
(May, 2007)

The Rev. James Cook, 82 years old, died Tuesday, eight weeks after being diagnosed with lung cancer.

He taught at the Western Theological Seminary for more than 40 years and was a gifted teacher, preacher and writer.

He was a gentle, loving individual.

Born in 1925 in Grand Rapids, he graduated from South High School and then served two years in the U. S. Army in World War II. After leaving the service, he earned a bachelor’s degree from Hope College in 1948 and a master’s in English literature from Michigan State University in 1949. Rev. Cook went on to earn a bachelor’s in divinity in 1952 from Western Seminary and a doctorate of theology from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1964.

He married Jean Rivenburgh in 1950.

After serving as a pastor for 10 years, Rev. Cook took a job in 1963 as professor of New Testament at Western and continued in that role until 1995. He continued to teach, where needed, until 2004.

Rev. Cook served at president and vice-president of the Reformed church in America’s General Synot in the 1908’s.

One of his best writings, "Shared Pain and Sorrow: Reflections of a Secondary Sufferer", which was published in 1991, after his son, Paul, died of cancer in 1982.

He is survived by his wife, Jean, children-Mark, Carol (Cook) Roberson, and Timothy and three grandchildren.

Visitation will be at the Rev. Cook’s home, 1004 South Shore Drive. Funeral services will be held at Hope Church, 77 W. 11^th Street, Holland, Michigan.