Joseph L. “Joe” Cook, 75, died peacefully and comfortably on Friday, Feb.7, 2014, at the Miriam Boyd Parlin Residence in Wayland, Mass., following an illness of several months.

He was born in Provincetown, Mass., on Nov. 14, 1938, the son of the late Joseph G. Cook and Grace M. (LeRoy) Cook.

Joe spent his earlier years in Provincetown, Mass., and graduated from Provincetown High School with the Class of 1957. After graduation he enlisted with the United States Air Force as an Airman. Joe was honored to represent his country in the armed forces and was proud to be a veteran. He graduated with an AS Degree in Mortuary Science from the California School of Mortuary Science. For many years he was associated as a funeral director and embalmer with Gates, Kingsley and Gates Funeral Home in Santa Monica, Calif., and for several years with the John Mayer Funeral Home in Austin, Minn. He also was associated with the Hormel Company in Research and Development for many years. Joe was an honest and dedicated friend of the Bryant family and a trusted associate to the John C. Bryant Funeral Home for the past 12 years until his recent illness. He moved to Massachusetts 15 years ago from Minnesota and resided with family in Natick, Mass., before moving to the Cochituate Village Apartments five years ago where he developed many lasting friendships.

Joe was the father of Christopher S. Cook and his wife, Peggy, of Roseville, Minn.; Gregory J. Cook and his wife Jayleen of Glenville, Minn., and Deborah Cook and her husband, Brian Hagan, of Austin, Minn., and the late Jeffrey Cook, who died in 2011. He was the grandfather of Larissa Cook of Austin, Minn., and Danielle Cook of Glenville, Minn. Brother of Peter R. Cook and his wife Tonya of Provincetown, Mass.; Irene Malouff of Huntington Beach, Calif., and Grace Ramsey and her husband Richard of Natick, Mass. Also survived by many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews and many friends as well as the mother of his children, Sharon Hunter of Austin, Minn.

He loved to visit Provincetown, Mass., and Cape Cod, enjoyed the beaches and sunsets over the harbor. He was a people person with an outgoing personality, a quick wit and always a warm smile. He had a great sense of humor and enjoyed telling his many stories. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved Joe and the many lives he touched.