Patrick Joseph Cooke

Patrick Joseph Cooke, 86, died in his home in Shawnee, Kan., on Monday, Jan. 15, 2018. He was born in Blackrock, County Cork, Ireland, and raised in the village of Rye Hill near Tuam in County Galway by siblings Jimmy and Maggie Slattery. He attended Lavally National School in Tuam, followed by John McHale Technical School in Tuam. In 1955, he boarded a ship and immigrated to America under the sponsorship of Mae Slattery Ryan and began living in Kansas City, Mo. Almost immediately, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served 16 months in post-WWII Germany, where he worked in ordinance and learned how to cuss in German. After active duty, he served six years in the U.S. Army Reserves.

Over the years, he worked for Manor Bakery in Westport, as a delivery driver for Budweiser and Hamm's, as a Fuller Brush Man, and for Eastern Distributing Co. He spent six years as a stay-at-home dad, thus ensuring his youngest daughter had him wrapped around her finger. Pat then worked as a maintenance man at St. Joseph Grade School in Shawnee, Kan., then in a similar position at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Overland Park, Kan., for 12 years. Thanks to his work at Aquinas, for years both during and after his tenure there, Aquinas alumni working as waiters and bartenders all over Kansas City would happily greet Mr. Cooke when they saw him. He really wished he could remember all those friendly Saints.

In retirement, Pat enjoyed having his grandchildren around him, almost as much as he enjoyed inventing excuses to visit his oldest daughter in Waldo so he could pop in at Governor Stumpy's and charm the waitresses. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Fr. Bernard Donnelly Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, where he was always quick to educate the members about the Easter Uprising of 1916, whether they wanted to be educated or not.

Pat is survived by Anna Agnew Cooke, his wife of 44 years; three children, Colleen Cooke of Kansas City, Mo., Sean (Jennifer) Cooke of Olathe, Kan., and Kathleen (Jim) Znidarsic of Shawnee, Kan.; and five grandchildren, Ryan, 14, Addison, 10, Caitlin, 10, Molly, 6, and Ava, 6.

Visitation is 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, at Amos Funeral Home, 10901 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, Kansas. Mass of Christian Burial is 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 19, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, temporarily located at the old St. Joseph High School Gym, 11525 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, Kansas. Burial to follow at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.

Memorial contributions in Patrick's name may be made to:

Journey of Grace 150 Campaign

5901 Flint Street, Shawnee, Kansas 66203.