Charles "Chuck" E. Cookson

Charles E. Cookson, or Chuck as he was known by relatives and friends, passed away on Sunday, December 10, 2023, at the age of 93 in Monticello, Illinois. A funeral service in his honor will be held at noon, Tuesday, December 19, 2023, at St. Johns Lutheran Church, 200 Charleston Avenue, Mattoon, IL 61938; Pastor Andrew Herzberg will officiate. A committal service will immediately follow in Elliott Cemetery, 1000 E 500 N RD, Elliott, IL 60933. Military Rites will be conducted by the American Legion Post 568. The visitation will be held from 10:00 AM until the time of service at the church. Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home, located at 1200 Wabash Avenue, Mattoon, IL 61938 is in charge of services. Chuck was born in Rantoul, Illinois, on May 19, 1930. He was adopted as a baby by George W. and Mabel (Olson) Cookson through the Cunningham Children’s Home in Champaign. He knew a nomadic childhood as his dad served in the Army and the family was stationed in Nebraska, Texas, Utah and Illinois. Chuck graduated from Paxton High School and he always thought of Paxton as home. After graduation he joined the Navy and served in the Seabees Construction Battalion on Guantanamo Bay in Cuba during the Korean conflict. Chuck was married for 50 years to Harryette Werling Hulbert Cookson until her death in October of 2002. They had three children: Cheri Hulbert, of Normal, Illinois, Roxanne Stirrett (Dike), of Champaign, Illinois, and Jack Cookson (Trish) of Monticello, Illinois. He was “Poppy” to his two beloved grandsons, Nick Stirrett (Tiff), of Louisville, Kentucky, and Jake Cookson, of Essex Junction, Vermont. After Harryette’s death, Chuck was graced to find love again with Dee Ann Henson Cookson, and welcomed her family into his heart. Dee passed away in September of 2006. Chuck is also survived by his sister, Mary Ann Freeman, and brother, Don Cookson, both of Mahomet, Illinois. Chuck spent his life in sales, working first in the car business and then with Prudential Insurance Company in Mattoon, Illinois, until retirement. After retirement he spent a couple days a week helping a friend who was a carpenter. The last seven years Chuck lived at Maple Point in Monticello, Illinois, where he often proclaimed, “It’s the next thing to home.” There he made many friendships with residents and staff. His favorite activity was Bingo and when he won he would select a Beanie Baby as his prize. He started collecting those winnings and with the help of his fellow Bingo players would amass as many as 350 a year. The winnings would then be donated to Cunningham Children’s Home. In 2020 he personally traveled to Cunningham to deliver that year’s winnings and to visit the place where he started. Chuck was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Mattoon, Illinois. At times he was active in the Men’s Club and Labor of Love. He enjoyed traveling and cheering on the Fighting Illini. But most of all, he enjoyed his family. Memorial contributions may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church, 200 Charleston Avenue, Mattoon, IL 61938. Please visit www.mitchell-jerdan.com or www.facebook.com/mitchelljerdanfuneralhome to light a virtual candle in his honor or share a memory with the family.

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Charles "Chuck" E. Cookson

May 19, 1930 - December 10, 2023