We’ve lost one of our own

[DaKat]

This will be better late than never, I hope.

Some of you might remember a thread I started in December about the terrible ice storm we had in OK. When it pushed north into Kansas and dumped a huge amount of snow, I remember thinking to myself “I hope my guys up there are okay!!”

Time went on and I began to notice a certain Kansas member hadn’t been logged in for awhile. But as these things happen, with the size of the board nowadays and all that it involves, it slipped my mind again.

The last time I spoke to pro-five-oh on the phone I remember mentioning the missing member to him and telling him I was worried about the guy, and I tried to remind myself I needed to look into it. As usual, other board business overshadowed it and it went on the back burner again.

Today, I got what few brain cells I have left together and did some searching. (Yes – I really DO worry about the members of Lincolns OnLine.) While the bad weather in January was not the cause, I’m sad to say my fears were not otherwise unfounded.
Edward F. Cooke (moderator/ekooke), 68, of Iola died Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008, at Research Medical Center in Kansas City, Mo.
He was born Aug. 17, 1939, in Sycamore, Ill. He grew up in Illinois and served in the U.S. Navy from 1956 to 1960.
He received an industrial engineering certification and worked for various industrial and manufacturing companies throughout the United States including Berg Manufacturing in Iola. He was also a real estate appraiser and worked with Tom Powell in Iola. He had made his home here mostly for 30 years, traveling for industrial contract jobs.
On July 15, 1993, he was married to Sharon K. (Needham) Katzer in Le Roy. They made their home in Iola.
He is survived by his wife of the home; a stepson, Tawn Katzer and his wife, Keela, Kansas City, Mo.; a stepbrother and his family, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Mattis and family, Cold Stream, Ill.; and a brother-in-law and his family, Mr. and Mrs. Lowell Needham and family, Lamar, Mo.
Anyone with a Mark VIII on this site can attest to ekooke’s wizardry with the lighting and air suspension systems on our cars. He was downright feisty about it sometimes, but by gosh, he had the facts and the know-how to back it up.

He was an irreplaceable asset to our community and will be sorely missed.
Thanks for all you did for us, Ed. Rest in peace.

[pro-five-oh]

Ed will be sorely missed, this is a terrible day for Lincolns Online. For 7 years we had Ed's insight, now one of our best and brightest is gone.

Please have Ed in your prayers, or whatever you choose, sometime this week.

:boohoo:

[NYC LS8]

Just last week I was wondering what the heck ever happened to him when I was looking at the moderators on the forum list page. That totally sucks.


Rest in peace, Ed.


:(

[cason1]

That is horrible to hear. He was a tremendous help to me in my stay here on the boards. He will certainly be missed. Best wishes to his family.

[OneWayStreet]

I'm sorry to hear this. :(

Rest In Peace Ed. I'm sure there is a MK8 in heaven that needs your touch.

[Lincoln85]

I joined too late and never got the chance to know ed, but I know he will be sorely missed.

Rest in peace.....

[LJS30]

Man this is truly horrible news. I myself wonder many times what happens to people on the forums I am a member of.

[MichiganTeddyBear]

Really caught me by surprise..

My wife was even looking over my shoulder and I mentioned it and she said "wow, he will be missed"

I am sure his memory will live long in all of use.

RIP Ed.

[Nick]

I think Ed came on board around when I did. He has helped me and many others a lot. Though our discussions were largely technical, I feel I have known him, even if only by name. He will be sorely missed.

[Fordace]

I got to know Ed kinda personally a while back, he had lots of good advice. He was extremely accurate, he will be missed.

Rest In Peace Ed......Rich:(

[SignatureSeriesOwner]

wow, sorry to hear :(

At least he is in a better place. He will be missed. :(

[Newave Dave]

Dear ED, May you be smiling and shaking hands with Jesus before Satan knows your dead.

[Hizhonor]

Rest in Peace, my friend. I learned so much from you that a simple thank you can never be enough. <sigh> The good folks are always taken from us too soon.

:(

[Hizhonor]

Just last week I was wondering what the heck ever happened to him when I was looking at the moderators on the forum list page. That totally sucks.


Rest in peace, Ed.


:(


Oldschool mentioned that he hadn't seen a post from him in a long time. This is terrible news. :(

[LSC SS]

Wow. Rest in peace brother.

[JoshMcMadMac]

I remember thinking a month or so ago that it was weird not to have seen him posting recently. We have spoken back-and-forth enough times that it hits home. Take care Ed, you know how much you will be missed.

[Icarus]

This is bad news to hear. He will be missed :(

[Steve Moran]

I just got home, I had not been on all day.
I have tears in my eyes and I just don't know what to say. :(

[v8_dave]

A truly great guy, we will really miss him.

[luxuryrules]

I started to post earlier, and couldn't find the words to do this justice.

Ekooke was possibly one of the greatest Mark VIII minds I have ever had the pleasure of learning from. I can only imagine the countless others who have benefitted from that level of dedication, as I am sure it surfaced not only in his hobbies but also in his work and everyday life. We are not the only ones missing him.

[Silver Cobra]

:boohoo:

This is such sad news. His advice saved people money and he charged nothing for it. Truly a good man.

I hope he and bahamajay are up there laughing and driving their Marks over the clouds...

I won't remember Feb 14th just as Valentine's Day. I'll remember it as the day God called your name and you answered. RIP Ed.

~Ron

[younglincoln]

From what i have read you guys say about him, he sounds like he was a great man and im sure he will be missed by all.

Rest In Peace

[Drake_tr7]

Godess Bless Ed, the good part of the world just got a little smaller... Things like this are the worst part of aging..

[LSRX101]

I don't know what else to say except; Goodbye Ed, we'll miss you.
My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

[billcu]

This is very sad news.

I was wondering what happend to him too.

I learned a lot from him, he will be missed.

Rest in peace Ed.

[coffeepot/hrlmk7]

sorry to hear that he is gone.:( I to have read many of his posts,and saved myself some trouble with my marks. This Marine will always miss his navy brotheren.

[Bluegrass]

I had noticed awhile ago that he had not posted in along time.
Sorry to hear of this and he did indeed know his 'stuff' as they say.
Helped a lot of people with understanding their car issues.

[turborich]

I just saw this thread for the first time. I never know what to say when someone passes away. It is sad to hear.

RIP Ekooke.

[aristo1963]

Godspeed Ed (ekooke):(

[Philip]

There are many faceless names on here. People whom we've chatted with, shared automobilia with, taken advice from, given advice to. It's easy to lose track of someone with whom you've never met, but Ed is sorely missed and I can only say that God must have had a bigger plan for him and now he is living that plan out.

Peace be with those he left behind.

[partsman662002]

Wow...I just read this, very sad. Ekooke was very helpful to everyone, both here and on another board....I wonder if they know over there? I too was wondering why he hadn't been posting.
He will be missed.

[JP]

For as long as I remember being around Lincoln boards, I remember post after post from ekooke. A true Lincoln legend and a great person who will always be remembered. RIP :(

[BrooklynMarkVIII]

I dont know what to say. He was a value to this forum and will be missed by me and my Family. God bless his family and I know that all that he shared with us will remain true. A person that we cant replace for sure.

Jeff/NY/:(

[yakdude01]

Like DaKat said, it's not unusual for some of us to not post for a while, based on what's going on with life, and my lack of needing all your cool advice on my Lincoln, since I don't have one at the moment.

While I did, I found this board and many of Ed's posts were helpful to this Lincoln newbie.

My first beer tonight will be for you Ed. May you now have your choice of Lincolns to drive.

[BlackiceLSC]

I hope Ed is resting well. It has been a very long time since I have logged in here...a friend of mine alerted me to a member who might need some help, so I came back, and since I already knew about Ed's passing, I wanted to offer my condolences here as well.

Ed has been a very influential member of many of the sites I frequent. He is always quick to help those asking for it, and was a vast encyclopedia of knowledge of these cars.

He is greatly missed already, and I have already noticed wide-spread clues of his absence.

Ed...we hope you are in a better place, away from all the economic crisis many of us have been hearing about and enduring.

I only hope that the things you have taught us will be shared through us, to many others. You are one of the original "pay it forward" people...always sharing what you know, without any need for a thanks.

We miss you.

[curtis_bob]

i am on and off this site... and if there is one thing that i know of this site and the other Lincoln sites out there... is that once you join not matter if you know any one or not... you become part of a sort of Family... and hearing about Ed passing.. even though i didn't actually get a chance to talk with him or actually post on any of the forums that he was on.. i learned a lot from him... and being a part of this family... HE WILL BE MISSED.... THANK YOU ED!!!!

[DarylFay]

Ed (ekooke) my you rest in peace. Ekooke weighed in on a few of my questions on the board, always pleasant and always a technical blackbelt.

RIP

[Scarlitt]

i know you sure helped me alot with my 93 and 98 marks
thanks buddy rest in pease

[Different_Drummer]

Wow... I sold my Mark VIII a couple of years ago and haven't been on the forum for about that long. For some reason I was just thinking about you guys on the forum and how much help and fun Lincolns Online was to be a part of. I just now logged in and this announcement was the first thing I saw. I was blown away. Ekooke was such a help to me, and his advice saved me countless dollars at the dealership. He was a totally selfless guy who got pleasure out of helping people like me. I haven't been on this forum for a long time, but I feel a great loss knowing he is gone.

I miss all of you, and I kind of miss my Mark VIII, too. I likely won't be posting again, but I wish the best for you all.

[pro-five-oh]

Wow... I sold my Mark VIII a couple of years ago and haven't been on the forum for about that long. For some reason I was just thinking about you guys on the forum and how much help and fun Lincolns Online was to be a part of. I just now logged in and this announcement was the first thing I saw. I was blown away. Ekooke was such a help to me, and his advice saved me countless dollars at the dealership. He was a totally selfless guy who got pleasure out of helping people like me. I haven't been on this forum for a long time, but I feel a great loss knowing he is gone.

I miss all of you, and I kind of miss my Mark VIII, too. I likely won't be posting again, but I wish the best for you all.

Thanks for stopping by. I know Ed would be happy to hear from you.

Hopefully it won't be too long before you come back again. :)

[Pedrifico]

Still missed and still remembered after all this time......Pedrifico