Dolly Lucille Cook

She passed in her home, in the care of her family and Arcadia Home Care, after a long battle with dementia and multiple other health problems. A crushing disease for the afflicted, family and friends, as well as caregivers, consider giving to the cause of your liking.

Dolly was born June 24, 1950, in Lake Forest, Ill., to parents Dale and Lois Jerik. Shortly after, the close-knit family made the move to Ironwood, where her father worked for the Railway Express Agency and then created a camper/RV sales and service company. She graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1968. While Dolly was attending Gogebic College, she was swept off her feet by this guy, with whom many of you are acquainted. We were married in Ironwood on Aug. 29, 1970. Shortly after, we were subsequently blessed, most of the time, with our two boys, Geoffrey and Billy.

A self-made woman, Dolly ventured into banking after a stint with Kluggnes Electronics. She later progressed to become President of the Iron Mountain-Kingsford Community Federal Credit Union.

A few years later, she informed me that she was running for the elected office of Dickinson County Clerk! The first campaign effort fell just short, but the next try she succeeded. History was made, and 30 years later, she received several commendations from the State of Michigan for her service. She succeeded in a man’s world, a male-dominated profession, and I am proud of her achievements! She was honored to be Grand Marshall in the 2021 4th of July parade in Dickinson County. Health problems began shortly after her retirement, yet we managed one more Amtrak adventure in 2022. We took our granddaughters on the Amtrak out of Milwaukee for a night in downtown Chicago. Dolly and I then boarded the California Zephyr for a round-robin to San Francisco and Seattle, and back home. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to travel together.

Dolly loved spending time with her friends, family and pets. She loved Dickinson County, serving her community, and she loved her country with pride. Dolly enjoyed politics, reading, fishing, the occasional golf outing, gardening, true crime and traveling on Amtrak. She enjoyed the sunshine as well as feeding her many backyard critters. Dolly especially cherished time with her two granddaughters.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Dale and Lois Jerik; brothers-in-law, Ray Emmrich and Clifton Cook; sister-in-law, Tina Jerik; and in-laws, James and Lily Cook.

Dolly is survived by her husband, Bill Cook of Iron Mountain; her sons, Bill (Heidi) Cook of Aurora, Wis., and Geoffrey (Brittany) Cook of Appleton, Wis.; granddaughters, Indie and Ivy Cook of Appleton; one sister, Jeri Emmrich of Hurley, Wis.; brothers, Dan (Candy) Jerik of Minneapolis and Bob Jerik of Kenosha, Wis.; many nieces and nephews whom she adored; not to mention many special friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held from 3 to 9 p.m. on Friday, July 12 at the Iron Mountain City Park Pavilion. Food and drinks will be provided.

Many thanks to Dr. Schroeder and Michigan-Wisconsin Family Practice, Dr. Shanelli Fernando and Associates at ThedaCare Cancer, Dr. Wald at ThedaCare Pulmonary, Dr. Cynthia Geocaris and Dr. Shannon Schmidt and the staff at ThedaCare, and the gal that came to our home to obtain blood from Dolly. A heartfelt thank you to Laura from Arcadia Home Care for her soothing manner that I am convinced pulled Dolly from a coma and gave us one more day to communicate with her. If I have forgotten to mention any of you, be assured I haven’t forgotten you!

Friends may leave condolences and tributes to Dolly’s family online at www.jacobsfuneralhomes.com.

The family has chosen Jacobs Funeral Home of Iron Mountain to honor Dolly’s legacy of life.