Our loving father, grandpa, and hero returned home to Heavenly Father, surrounded by his family on Monday, December 16, 2013 at the age of 89.
Dad was born January 10, 1924, in Spencer, Nebraska to Albert Fredrick Loock and Myrtle Edith Parsons. He was the fourth of twelve children, growing up on a farm, milking cows, and playing football.
He joined the navy in 1943. He was a US Navy Gunner on a troop transport ship during WWII. After the war, he settled in Utah with two brothers and one sister, working at Hill Field as a machinist and heavy equipment operator.
He met Carol Lee Simmons in 1947 on a blind date. They were married on March 27, 1948 and later sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on January 10, 1968. Gramps was devoted to each family member, all of whom he loved unconditionally.
During his first years of marriage, he was one of the early members of the South Salt Lake Volunteer Fire Department. After he retired at Hill, he became a full time firefighter, serving as Captain, Assistant Chief, EMT, and training officer. Don was elected to the South Salt Lake City Council and served for 8 years. He became a member of the Honorary Colonels with the South Salt Lake Police Department.
As a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served as clerk for 25 years in the Kimball Ward. He was a dedicated scout master promoting many eagle scouts.
He will always be in our hearts and remembered for his Christmas scrambled eggs; waving from the porch as we left; perfect tomatoes; 37 years of smelling the smoke and heading into the danger; U of U Football where he "never left early!"
Don was preceded in death by his parents, 4 brothers, 4 sisters, son David Lynn, son in-law Bill Melling, and his sweetheart Carol. He is survived by his son Ronald (Debbie), daughters, Diana Lee Gates (Harvey), Merrilee Petersen (Randy), Laurie Melling, and Tammy Strahl (Anthon). He has 11 grandchildren: Mike (LaRay), Shawn (Merrianne), Jeff, Amanda (Ron), Cassie (Riley), Trevor (Heidi), Sami (Ryan), Spencer (Marynn), Lauren, Lee (Ashley), and Hannah, his two brothers and a sister: Max Loock (Jeri), Jim Loock, and Shirley Stewart. He has 19 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, December 21, 2013, at the Kimball Ward Chapel, 2280 South 300 East, South Salt Lake. WEAR RED. Viewings will be held Friday evening from 6:00-8:00 PM and Saturday from 9:45-10:45 AM, at the church prior to the service. Interment to follow the funeral at the Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park.
