Edna Jean (Jordan) Cook-Schilling

Mrs. Edna Jean Cook-Schilling, age 88 years, passed away peacefully in St. Cloud, MN on July 9, 2018 surrounded by loving family and devoted caregivers at Cherrywood Assisted Living.

Edna was the fifth of eleven children born to Siebe and Martha (Pikaart) Jordan on February 14, 1930 in Fremont, Michigan. She was raised on a farm outside of Fremont where she milked cows, drove the tractor, steered the cultivator, planted, cooked and helped with housework. Her siblings remember her as a hard worker full of stamina.

On December 2, 1949 Edna was united in marriage to Harold Cook under cedar boughs cut from the Jordan farm. Together they created a family with the addition of children Melvin (Jim), Kay, Cindy and Doug.  She was employed by Fremont Public Schools until her retirement in 1991.

Edna was remarried on January 2, 2004, to Dan Schilling.  They resided in Newaygo.  After Dan’s death, Edna lived in Kentucky, Missouri and Minnesota to be close her children and enjoy more time with family.  No matter her age, she welcomed every opportunity to learn something new, make more friends or take a trip.

As a woman of faith, the verses of her favorite hymns were forever on the tip of her tongue. She was most recently a member of the Newaygo United Methodist Church.  She made several mission trips, in and out of the United States.

Edna will be remembered for her spirit of service, generosity and gentle kindness.  Stories of her unfailing sense of fun and humor continue to delight her family, whether it be a story about how she once convinced her younger brother that a cherry tree would grow out of his ears after swallowing a pit, or a recent memory of an evening when she jokingly announced that nobody should take and post pictures on Facebook of her in the shower because, “I don’t need that kind of publicity”. 

Edna will be greatly missed by her children Melvin (Sally) Cook, Kay (Dale) Miller, Cynthia (John) van Aalst, and Douglas (Kiessa) Cook; step-children Ellen (James) Turek, Daniel Schilling, Diana (Brent) Joppe, Lisa (Ron) Brow; grandchildren Kim (Chad) Schaedler, Kevin (Lacey) Miller, David (Jerene Bain) Miller, Maria (Stephen) Estes, Evan (Mykayla Fontaine) van Aalst, Rachel van Aalst, Lindsay (James) Moreno, Brett (Lindsey) Cook, Aden Mackowick; 11 great-grandchildren with a twelfth due in December; siblings Mary (Bob) Converse, Wilbur (Linda) Jordan, Rich (Rose) Jordan, Nathan (Linda) Jordan; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

A celebration of life will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday July 16, 2018 at the Newaygo United Methodist Church (101 State Road) with Pastor Eric Magner officiating.  Interment will follow in Maple Grove Cemetery at 1:30 PM in Fremont.  Visitation will be at the Kroeze-Wolffis Funeral Home in Fremont from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM on Sunday, July 15, 2018.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Newaygo United Methodist Church, or The United Palestinian Appeal Embracing Life Program at http://www.helpupa.org/category/programs/embracing-life/.

You can sign the online guest book at www.kroeze-wolffis.com.  Arrangements are by Kroeze-Wolffis Funeral Home, Inc.

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