Chad Michael Cook

Chad has gone off-roading for the last time. This time he rock crawled right over the edge into eternity. Just as he came into the world premature, he left prematurely. 

Chad spent his life tinkering, wrenching, and driving Jeeps where sane people usually don’t. He never met a rock he didn’t want to crawl, a sand dune he didn’t want to test, a part he didn’t think he could replace with just a few tools, duct tape and baling wire. His pristine and well-equipped garage was his happy place. You could find Chad sitting in the garage with his faithful best friend, Renegade. Chad loved his #1 trail dog. 

To all of his friends and family: thanks for riding shotgun on trails, and spotting on obstacles. Can’t you just hear him saying, “This is just the ultimate rock crawl — a trail with no map, some sketchy obstacles, and hopefully a good view at the end. Don’t be too sad. Just remember me whenever you hear the sound of a winch, the hiss of airing down tires, or the sweet clunk of a gear shift into 4-Low.”

Friends describe Chad as the friend you could call at 2am, when in need, and you just knew he’d be there.

Keeley describes her father as supportive. She loved the time she got with Chad riding in the side-by-side, and time spent in the garage talking.

Casey describes his father as forgiving. He enjoyed time alone with his father on long drives, camping and the Jeeping trips they took.  

His wife Darcy felt that they were soul mates the day they met. She is heartbroken that they only got to spend 3 years together, but so grateful they married despite knowing each other less than one month. She will miss everything he did for her, even the things she did not notice. 

Chad Michael Cook was born March 26, 1977 in Hayward, California and passed away at home on September 22, 2025. He is survived by his 2nd wife of 3 years, Darcy Cook, and his children Casey and Keeley Cook of Caldwell, Idaho. His Mother Kayleen Cook, Grandmothers Sandra Hutchings of Whitehall, Montana and Reba Cook of Fremont, California. His sisters Sara (David) Para, their children and Amy Cook-Devas of North Bend, Oregon. As well as Aunts, Uncles, Cousins. 

He was greeted at the trailhead by his father Jeffery Cook, grandfathers Vinton Hutchings, James Cook, and his Uncle Steve Cook.

Chad was supportive of kids interested in the trades, in his memory please make donations to a trade or vocational school of your choice or CWI Foundation at www.CWI.edu/give.