Louis Sinclair Cooke

Louis Sinclair Cooke, 93, of Overland Park, Kansas, passed away Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, at St. Luke’s Hospice House in Kansas City, Missouri.

 

Louis was born in 1930 in Rensselaer, New York, to Matthew and Margaret (Miller) Cooke, who preceded him in death. On April 17, 1953, he married Melana (Sumonia) Cooke. He had a lifelong love for music that started with singing in a local church choir and playing numerous instruments in high school, although the trumpet was his favorite. It continued when Louis joined the Army in August 1948 and was part of the 371st Army Band stationed at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas. He played the trumpet with roughly 25 band members, primarily performing on the installation for events, playing for fellow soldiers on Sunday afternoons, and even entertaining high-ranking officials visiting the base. He also played Taps for fallen soldiers’ funerals. During his time in Leavenworth, he also played in a four-piece band that traveled for performances and spent some time playing with a big band.

After four years, Louis left the Army to work for the U.S. Postal Service while studying at Rockhurst College in Kansas City, Missouri, where he graduated in 1957. At a time when computers were still so new, Louis was fascinated by them. He worked for a few companies when he started but spent most of his career as a computer programmer and analyst for Yellow Freight in Overland Park, Kansas.

 

In retirement, Louis dabbled in music from time to time, occasionally playing the organ Melana purchased for their Overland Park home and later taking flute lessons to keep up with his granddaughter, who played the flute in high school and college.

Louis and Melana transformed their backyard, filling the entire space with flowers, bushes, vegetable plants, a large fish pond with water lilies and even a playhouse for their grandchildren. Louis mostly cared for his tomato plants in the corner of the backyard, tending to them each season. He and Melana also loved to round dance, traveling across the country to do so. During his later years, Louis spent his days reading endless library books on any and every American history topic, from presidents to politics to wars, and watching classic movies, the Chiefs and the Royals.

 

He is survived by two sons, Randy (Ann) Cooke, of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, and Gary (Kathy) Cooke, of Elk Grove Village, Illinois; and four grandchildren, Nicole (Andy), Laura, Brian (Maggie) and Kerry.  In addition to his wife and parents, he is preceded in death by his brother, Dean, and his sister, Margaret.

 

Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 3, 2023, at St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church, 12251 Antioch Road, Overland Park, Kansas, 66213. Burial will follow at Johnson County Memorial Gardens for immediate family only.

 

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Rockhurst University, 1100 Rockhurst Road, Kansas City, MO 64110, or St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church.

 

Arrangements are under the direction of Kansas City Funeral Directors.