Arleen Joyce Cook of Arnold

   Arleen Joyce Cook was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend.

   She was an inspiration to all who knew her throughout her 28 year
battle with Parkinson's disease.

   Arleen was born in Montebello on November 4, 1943 to Margaret and Willard Nissen.  Willard was not to see his daughter until he returned from service in the Army in 1945.

   Arleen passed away on January 18, 2014 in the presence of her family at their home in Arnold.

   As a child, Arleen lived in Avenal and Madera for a short time until her parents moved to Coalinga.

   Arleen graduated from Coalinga High School in 1961 and attended West Hills College in Coalinga.

   In July of 1963 Arleen married George E. Cook, also of Coalinga, In 1967 the couple moved to Fresno and Arleen worked as an accountant while George Attended Fresno State College.

   After college they became State Park Nomads as George became a California State Park Ranger and the career took them from Humboldt Redwoods State Park in Weott, Millerton Lake near Fresno, Cuyamaca Rancho in San Diego County, and Hearst Castle near Cambria.

   Next was Big Basin State Park in Santa Cruz county and then to her favorite park which was Empire Mine State Historic Park in Grass Valley, where they stayed 7 years.

  After a short stay in Temecula, the travelling finally stopped in Santa Cruz, when George Retired in 1997.  They have lived in Arnold since 1999.

   Arleen worked as a teacher's aide in Grass Valley at Union Hill Elementary School but was primarily a homemaker and loving mother to George Jr. who was born in February 1964 and Jill who was born in April of 1973.

   Arleen was a talented artist who loved to paint in acrylics.  She was a collector of antique ghlass and marbles and she loved big dogs.

   She was an excellent pastry cook and enjoyed entertaining and family gatherings.   She was especially close to her siblings and was a wonderful wife and mother.

    Arleen is survived by her husband George of Arnold, son George Jr. of San Jose and daughter Jill, also of Arnold.

   Arleen has two granddaughters Angela Graham-Cook and Danielle Arleen hill of Arnold. She is also survived by her father Willard Nissen of Visalia, sister Carol Brown of Visalia and her brother Robert Nissen of Colorado Springs, Colorado. She has 6 nieces and 2 nephews.

    The family would like to give a special Than Ypu to the Hospice of the Sierra located in Sonora for their excellent service in Arleen's final days and asks that any remembrances be sent to that organization.

   A graveside service will be held at the Buena Vista Cemetery in Murphys on Thursday January 23, 2014 at 2 PM.

   Arrangements were made through Angels Memorial Chapel in Angels Camp.