Obituary: Kenneth A. Cookle

July 10, 1937 – Jan. 19, 2024

Kenneth “Cookie” A. Cookle, 86, of Sturgeon Bay, passed away Friday evening Jan. 19, 2024 at his home with his family by his side. 

He was born July 10, 1937 in Moreson, WI the son of the late Aloysius and Clara (Koenig)  Cookle.  Ken attended Denmark High School and worked on his grandparents farm every summer after school let out. He served his country with the U.S. Army from 1955 until his honorable discharge in-1959. On June 2, 1962 he married MonaRae Meihsner at St. James Catholic Church in Cooperstown. They were blessed with three children, Kevin, Connie, and Steven.

Ken had worked for Allied Heat Treating, Eck Foundry, Lake to Lake, and The Manitowoc Co. where he became a skilled ship fitter and riveter. Special projects were given to Ken (and his crew Cookle’s Commando’s) as his talents were sought after and included riveting on the Coast Guard tall training ship “Eagle”. He repaired multiple ships in California and Connecticut. In Johor Bohru, Malaysia he riveted the tanker, “Syosset” for Mobil Gas Co. Ken retired from Bay Shipbuilding after many years of work excellence and dedication. He was known as “Big Daddy” to his fellow ship builders at the yard.

Ken was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and enjoyed fishing, gardening, camping, and his fur babies and bird watching in his yard.

Survivors include his wife, MonaRae; three children, Kevin (Jean) Cookle, Connie (Bruce) Zuleger, Steven (Melissa) Cookle; six grandchildren, Nicole, Kent, Cady, Jeremy, Kaila and Garrett; eight great-grandchildren, Dustin, Vanessa, Otto, Brynlee, Braelyn, Nevaeh, Roman and Stevie Mae; his remaining siblings, Pat Holdorf, Jim and (Carol) Cookle, Mariann and (Bill) Johnson, and sister-in-law Judy Cookle.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Aloysius and Clara Cookle; in -laws, Clarence and Ramona Meihsner; brother, Leland; sister, Lamar and brother-in-law (Roger) Meihsner, brother-in-law Bud Holdorf.

Funeral services with military honors will be held at Noon. on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024 at Huehns Funeral Home with Fr. Matthew Rappl officiating. Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Manitowoc. 

Friends may call at Huehns Funeral Home Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024, from 10 am until the time of service at 12:00 noon. Military honors will follow the service at 12:30 pm at Huehns Funeral Home.  

Many thanks to Dr. Reitz, Dr. Hogan, Sturgeon Bay Emergency Services, Green Bay Oncology, Bellin Cardiology, and the very special Unity Hospice Nurses for their compassionate, competent care given to both Ken and his wife, MonaRae.

Sign online guest register, offer condolences, share memories and photos of Ken at huehnsfuneralhome.com.