Robert Harmon Cooke

Robert Harmon Cooke, of Buhl, Idaho passed from this life to the flip side on October 17, 2023, surrounded by his family and friends.

He was born December 8, 1946, to Robert and LaVaun Cooke in Twin Falls, Idaho. Shortly after, the family moved to Santa Monica, California where he grew up along with his brother Russell and sister Gelene.

Bob made lifelong friends including his best friend Ralph Neimeyer who has been with Bob to the very end.

He met his first love Christina Iliff and from that union came his son Robert Russell Cooke. Later, Bob and Russell moved home to Idaho and he met his second love Kim Lapray. The two were married April of 1979, and together they shared a beautiful life and two very special daughters, Wendi Diane and Hiedi LaVaun.

Among Bob’s many journeys, he made the trek to Springfield, Missouri, and his family packed up and followed. Bob enjoyed going to Blues concerts like Walter Trout, and having family BBQs. It was there another son was born, Sage Stallings. Bob’s soul was longing to head west again, and he moved back home to Idaho. He enjoyed being with his grandkids, gardening, family dinners, and creeping through the desert looking for pretties.

Bob then met his third and final love of his life, Lisa, and they wed in June of 2012. Bob and Lisa shared many interests such as gardening, canning, cooking, baking bread, fishing, and being Nana and Papa to the grandkids.

Bob enlisted in the United States Navy on the U.S.S Piedmont and served proudly from 1965 to 1969 during the Vietnam War, which was one of his proudest accomplishments in life.

To everyone feeling this loss, remember his smiling face, his welcoming heart, and his desire to give all of his grandkids the messiest food to run around with and destroy your house. Family and friends were everything to him. Whether he was Dad, Uncle Bob, Papa, Big Bopper, or Cookie, he always gave the needed version of himself to you. His kind heart always saw the best in people.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents; son-in-law, Josh Reynolds; and was recently joined by his sister, Gelene, on October 19, 2023.

He is survived by his wife, Lisa; brother, Russ; children; 15 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren who will miss him terribly.

Cooke Time will seem like the longest Cooke Time until we see the whites of his eyes again. Until then, it’s “C-Ya”, never goodbye.

Memorial service will be held at 10:30 am, Wednesday, October 25, 2023, at Farmer Funeral Chapel, 130 9th Ave North, Buhl. Military honors will conclude at 12:00 pm at the Snake River Canyon National Cemetery, 1585 E Elm St, Buhl, with a dinner to follow at 405 Lewis Clark Circle, Buhl.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family on Robert's memorial webpage at www.farmerfuneralchapel.com.