Ralph "Ken" Cooksey

August 11, 1945 - January 9, 2022

Ralph “Ken” Cooksey, 76, passed away on Sunday, January 9, 2022. He was born on August 11, 1945, in Evansville, IN, and was a longtime resident of Libertyville and Grayslake, IL. Ken's passion for learning earned him several degrees and continued throughout his life with classes in astronomy, computer programming, photography, and aviation ground school. He was a beloved physics teacher at Deerfield High School for 30 years and head of the Rocket Club. Ken was an active member of the United Methodist Church in Libertyville, where he took pride in being a Stephen Minister, offering prayer and support, and initiating the distribution of handheld wooden crosses. Ken was a member of the RC Flyers at Saddlebrook Farms and enjoyed playing poker. He will be remembered as an avid outdoors person that loved biking, canoeing, fishing, camping, outdoor photography, and complicated jokes. Ken is survived by his wife of 30 years, Leslie Cooksey; children, David (Amanda) Cooksey, Gwen (Ben) Dowell, Matthew (Anoosh) Cooksey, and Sara (Joshua) Jakubowski; grandchildren, Abigail and Felicity Cooksey, William, Julia, and Nicholas Dowell, Arlo, Adrineh, and Aiden Cooksey, Jaxon and Connor Sikora, and Aslan Reeves; brother, Dr. Steven Cooksey and former wife and dear friend, Jean Cooksey. He was preceded in death by his brother, Randal Cooksey, and grandson, Nathaniel Cooksey. Arrangements by Burnett-Dane Funeral Home in Libertyville, IL. Memorial contributions can be made to the Parkinson Foundation, www.parkinsonfoundation.org or ASPCA, https://secure.aspca.org/donate. The Cooksey Family would love to see your shared memories and photos of Ken at www.burnettdane.com or call (847) 362-3009 for more information.