James Robert Cook

James (Jim) Robert Cook, Sr., a lifelong Cranford, NJ resident passed on July 5th, 2021 at the age of 91. Surviving James is his beloved wife who he was married with for 67 years, Joan (Freckmann) Cook who also is lifelong resident of Cranford. Jim is survived by his twin sister Lily Carey. Jim was a devoted father to 4 children, loving grandfather to 11, and great-grandfather to 4.
His oldest daughter Candy Hahn of Roselle Park, and her 3 children, Eugene Hahn and his wife Melissa of Clark and their son Gene, Carolyn and her husband Koel Alexander of East Brunswick and Ashley and her husband Josh Danois of Scotch Plains. His oldest son, James (Jim) Cook Jr. and his wife Debbie of Atlantic Highlands and their two daughters Jeanette and Sara. His youngest son Tom (TR to Dad) Cook and his wife Lisa both from Cranford and still in Cranford and their sons, Kyle and his wife Katie of Brooklyn, Christopher and his fiancé, Alexandra from Hoboken and Nick, a Cranford Police Officer and his girlfriend Tracy of Sleepy Hollow, Plainfield. His youngest daughter Barbara Finn and her husband John of Fort Mill, SC and their 3 daughters, Chelsea Rowell, her husband Jeremy, their children Logan, Blakely, and Paisley, and their other daughters Amanda and Kelly.
Jim was born in a house in Cranford and grew up with 3 other brothers and two sisters in about 4 houses around town, he met his wife, Joan in Cranford high school and they were married soon after and moved to 32 Roselle Ave. to start their dream and family. Jim had worked as a young man to help with family finances at the Cranford bowling alley and eventually at Builders General in Cranford. Jim proudly served in the New Jersey National Guard and was honorably discharged in 1958 as Sargent 1st Class E-6. Jim He secured a job at Western Electric who was eventually owned by AT&T and worked on a production line in Kearny, NJ for almost 40 years. The last two years before he retired he was transferred to a clean lab for AT&T in Clark, NJ. As he always said, "the best job I ever had", because he was in air-conditioning for the first time at work. Once retired Jim decided he would finish his schooling and received his GED at the age of 60 from Union County Regional High school.
During his life with his family, Jim worked many hours to make sure his family always had what they needed and wanted. He loved the game of football and played for Cranford and got the nickname "Bonehead" from his coaches due to his toughness even though he was smaller than most of the other players. He also coach the Pop Warner football team in town back in the early 70s when his sons were playing. Jim was an active member of the Masonic Temple in Cranford/Rahway all of his life up until he passed. He loved the Masonic lodge and was very proud of the history of the freemasons. You could always see Jim reading the almanac or history books along with countless shows on war and history as this intrigued him the most. Jim taught himself everything and there was nothing he felt he couldn't do. He would fix anything on a car engine, replace motors on dryers, compressors on refrigerators, glass in windows, plumbing, heating and especially electricity. He had the ability to wire up an entire house and worked on it while it was still on. Toughness oozed from him as he told stories of his childhood and life. He and the neighbors build an extension on the back of our house in Cranford and vestibule on the front. Jim always thought there was nothing he couldn't do or learn and taught his children this way of thinking.
As his grandchildren started to participate in activities Joan and him spent countless hours of their time going from game to game, tournament to tournament and event to event and loved to see them all compete in their different activities.