Franksville – Gene Madsen Cook, age 82, passed away on June 27, 2025, at his residence surrounded by his loving family. He was born on March 1, 1943, in Washburn, Wisconsin to Harold and Ida (nee. Creech) Cook. Gene was a proud Vietnam Army veteran. He worked as an AFA journeyman farrier and retired from General Motors as a welder. On June 8, 1968, he married his best friend, Margaret Fagan, and together they raised three children.

Gene took pride in being involved in his community. He served as the Racine Parade Marshall and rode in the circus parade on the horseback drill team and rode in the West Allis Western Days Parade. Gene was a certified farrier tester for the AFA and knew Elvis Presley's and The Crusher's farriers. He was featured on the cover of the American Farriers Journal. He was very active in the 4H project and enjoyed restoring John Deere tractors.

Gene loved tending to his farm, raising cows, making hay and taking care of his beloved horses. He competed in the Painted Horse Association and Pinto Horse Association. Gene shod horses for the Milwaukee Police Department and the zoo. He served as president of the Tanbark and Trails Saddle Club and supported the Caledonia Conservancy. Gene was a talented craftsman, and handmade custom western bits and spurs. Gene did numerous horseshoeing demonstrations for local schools including a demonstration for Russian diplomats.  He even square danced on horseback. During Halloween, he would dress up as the Headless Horseman atop his horse to entertain families. Gene was known to keep a jar of candy in the back of his truck, earning him the name "Candyman" by three generations of kids. He will be dearly missed by all those who knew him.

Gene is survived by his wife, Marge Cook; children, Andrew Gene (Michele) Cook, Matthew Gene (Eve) Cook, and Sarah Ann Cook; grandchildren, Riley Scherer, Memphis Cook, and Harlowe Cook; siblings, Shirley (Carl) Ferguson, Biu (Bonnie) Cook, and Richard Cook; sisters-in-law, Eleanore Ryan and Patricia Cook; brother-in-law, James (Joan) Guttmann; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Ida Cook; brother, Arnold Cook; siblings-in-law; Ken Ryan, Raymond (Patricia) Guttmann, and Mary Eleanore (Felix) Niedzolkowski.

A visitation will be held at Miller Reesman Funeral Home on July 21 from 5pm – 8pm. Additional visitation will be on July 22 from 9am to 9:30am with a service to begin at 9:30. Immediately following the service, we will be going in procession to the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery for full military honors and burial.

The family would like to thank Veterans Associations of Milwaukee and Racine, Clement Zablocki Medical Center, and the Allay Hospice staff for the extraordinary care they have shown Gene.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Gene's honor can be made to Tunnels to Towers, horsepowerhealing.com, or the family.