William Austin Cook

William Austin Cook, age 24, passed away on January 28th in Springfield.

Cremation rites have been accorded by Holland Barry & Bennett Funeral Home.
Memorial services will be held at 10 AM Saturday, February 5, 2022 in the Lincoln Christian Church Fellowship Center with LC Sutton officiating.

Will leaves behind his parents, Larry and Diane Cook, two brothers, Bret Paulus (Samantha) and Max Cook, one sister, Kendall Paulus (Patrick Ampleman), his grandfather, Raymond Cook of Green Valley, Arizona, two beloved nephews, Braxton and Callan Paulus, his girlfriend, Emma Nepolello, and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Sue Cook, Gerald and Vivian Gehrke and cousin, Nicholas Schwalbach.

Will graduated from Lincoln Community High School, Heartland Community College and after much hard work and perseverance, received a bachelor’s degree in business from Illinois State University. Will was a marketing representative for Frontier-Mt Carroll Mutual Insurance Company where he worked daily with his father.
Will often talked of how fortunate he and Max were to have grown up in Starkey Acres subdivision where they have wonderful memories of playing continuously outside with the gang and all the shenanigans that went with it. Will was fiercely loyal to his friends and cared so deeply for all of them. Will spent the last two years in Peoria with the love of his life, Emma, and their dog, Koda. We will forever be grateful for all the teachers and coaches who helped him along the way and helped shape him into the wonderful man he became.
Will was the best friend, the best son and grandson, the best brother, the best uncle, the best boyfriend, the best dog dad and we couldn’t have loved him more.

Memorial donations may be made to Moms Who Care.