Robert E. Rook

Robert E. Rook, 81, of Topeka passed away peacefully at Midland Hospice House in Topeka on September 14, 2014. He was born February 7, 1933 at Cortland, New York the son of William E. and Marie Boorman Rook. He joined the F.W. Woolworth Company at age 17. After two years serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, Bob returned to the Woolworth Company where he worked until his retirement in 1995. Bob worked in management for Woolworth’s at several stores in the southeast part of the United States before moving to Junction City, KS, to serve in management at the new distribution center being built there. After retirement, he and his wife Jessie moved to Mountain Home, Arkansas. They lived there for five years until moving to Topeka in 2000. Bob worked for the Kirby Funeral Home in Arkansas and at Davidson Funeral Home in Topeka.
He was a member of Topeka Baptist Church. He was a member of the Lions Club in Mountain Home and volunteered for a number of years at Let’s Help in Topeka.
Bob was married to Jessie C. McClain at Nashville, Tennessee on January 4, 1957.
Jessie survives at their home in Topeka. Other survivors include sons, Bob Rook (Faye) of Baltimore, MD, John Rook (Jeanie) of Liberty, MO, David Rook (Jule) of Allen, TX and Rick Rook (Renee) of Junction City, KS; six grandchildren, Rachel, Jenna, Laura, Trent, Austin and Bryce; his sister, Joyce Hart of Palm Beach Gardens, FL; and several nieces and nephews.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, William Burton Rook and John Rook in infancy; and sisters, Charlotte Rook and Laura Thompson.
Graveside services and interment will be held 1:30 pm on Thursday, September 18, 2014 at the Leavenworth National Cemetery. Thursday evening the family will receive friends from 6-8 pm at the Davidson Funeral Home, 1035 N. Kansas Ave., in Topeka. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial contributions may be made to Topeka Baptist Church. To leave a message for the family please visit www.davidsonfuneral.com

For those needing directions to Leavenworth National Cemetery. Take Highway 73 north through Lansing, Kansas to Kansas Highway 5 which is also Muncie Steet. At that corner there is a Ford Dealership. Turn right and the gate to the cemetery is on your left in less than a quarter of a mile.