Alvin Zook

Alvin Elmer Zook was born August 6, 1924 near Garden City, MO, the seventh of nine children to Edward K. and Nancy Edith (Hershberger) Zook. After a short illness, Alvin left this life on April 10, 2015 at the age of 90. On April 7, 1950 Alvin married Evelyn Yoder, daughter of C.P and Florence (Schrock) Yoder. This past April 7, Alvin and Evelyn observed their 65th wedding anniversary with children, grandchildren and nurses of St. Joseph Hospital. And, they were delighted with cards from family, friends and relatives.
Alvin was a life-long member of the Sycamore Grove Mennonite church of rural Garden City. There, he gave his life to Christ and dedicated himself to serving the Lord in his church, family and community. Throughout his life, Alvin served Christ and His Church as a Sunday School leader, in Civilian Public Service and with the Mennonite Central Committee Meat Canner, Mennonite Disaster Service and the Garden City Fire & Ambulance Service. He also served with Heifer Project International as a ‘Sea Going Cowboy’ on the S.S. Mt. Whitney helping with the shipping of 1500 horses to Poland in rebuilding efforts after World War II.
Alvin and Evelyn are the parents of four children. Darrell (Pat) of Pulaski, IA; Duane (Darla), Velma (Willard) Yoder and Delvin (Debbie) all of Garden City, Missouri. One of the happiest moments of Alvin’s life was the gathering of his family in July of 2013. Delvin and Debbie brought Kyle, Shannon and Derrick. Duane and Darla brought Casey and Shelby. Velma and Willard brought Daniel, Talashia, Malachi, Zephaniah, Emily, Megan, Brandon and Anna. Darrell and Pat brought Aaron, Megan, Caleb, Natalie, Sara, Paul, Colton, Mark, Tricia, Owen and Micah. At that reunion, Alvin served as official judge of the family pie baking contest by his grand daughters and in-laws. He announced that he had two favorite kinds of pie—hot and cold! Since then, Alvin welcomed Emmit, Adda, Katelynn and Jason to the family and was looking forward to another great-grandchild this Fall.
At age 14, Alvin’s father died and he left high school at East Lynne for work to help his mother keep house and home together. He lived and worked with the Wilbur Schrock’s, Floyd Schrock’s and worked for a short time with Reuben Yoder. After Alvin and Evelyn were married in 1950 he farmed for a short time and then began work at Garden City Oil Company on Main Street in Garden City where he remained for 30 years. About 1964 he purchased the service station and operated Zook’s Service for 20 years. In 1984 he began working for the Sherwood Cass R-VIII School District servicing and maintaining school buses until his retirement. Alvin was a volunteer ambulance driver and fireman for the Garden City Fire Department for more than 30 years. Many, many times Alvin dropped his tools and ran to drive the ambulance or to the fire department to drive the famous ‘brush buggy’ to battle a grass fire somewhere in the community. He appreciated his home community and enjoyed the company of his customers and neighbors. The past number of years mealtimes at the Old Cedar Inn with his family and friends was a high point of his day.
Alvin is survived by his wife Evelyn of the home and his children, their spouses and 13 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his twin brother Allen Zook of Archbold, Ohio and his brother John Zook of Goshen, Indiana. And, by his brothers-in-law Leroy Yoder of Goshen, Indiana and Joe Yoder of Garden City, Missouri and by sister-in-law Dorothy Zook of Hesston, Kansas. He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters Mary and Luella of Hesston, Kansas and Erma of Goshen, Indiana. He was also preceded by his brother Marvin of Hesston, Kansas and two infant siblings, Mabel and Clarence of rural Garden City.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, April 14, 2015 at Sycamore Grove Mennonite Church near Garden City, Missouri. Interment was in Clearfork Cemetery near Garden City, Missouri.

The family suggests that Memorial Contributions may be made to the Mennonite Central Committee Meat Canning Project or to the Heifer International Seagoing Cowboys Project.