In Loving Memory of Don Cook

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It is with deep sorrow that we share the passing of local legend Don Cook – Mountain Bike Hall of Fame Inductee, Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association Founder, beloved husband and friend, and so much more. Donnie passed doing what he loved – mountain biking on the trails that he helped create. His absence will be greatly felt here at the Museum, across the Gunnison Valley and throughout the international mountain biking community. If you would like to stop by and leave a memory of Donnie for Kay and family, there is a notebook here at the Museum to do so. Rest in paradise, Donnie.

Celebration of life for Don Cook

at the Crested Butte Museum

Thursday September 11th, 2025.

3:00pm Mountain Express Bus Parade
4:00pm Celebration of Life at the Crested Butte Museum 

In lieu of flowers, Kay Cook has asked that donations be made to the Crested Butte Union Congregational Church or to the Crested Butte Museum.  Thank you to Kay and Donnie for always supporting the Museum.

This will be a Finger-Foods, Appetizer, and Dessert Potluck. Please bring a dish to share, your own plate, and utensils. There will be cash bars with alcoholic beverages available for purchase. Non-alcoholic beverages will be available for free. Please do not bring your own alcoholic drinks.

Please bring your stories of Don to share, whether you write them down in one of the memory books that will be available or share them with us verbally. We are looking forward to hearing about all of the wonderful ways Donnie impacted those around him.

On Friday, September 12th the 49th Annual Pearl Pass Klunker tour event participants and friends will meet at the Rainbow Park Pavilion (300 Eighth St, Crested Butte, CO 81224) at 5:00pm for a meet and greet, with snacks, libations and the weekend tour gear drop-off. We will have light bites and please feel free to bring food and drinks to share. Maybe we will even make a pizza run later. Be sure to bring your Townie bike to take a lap around town to celebrate Donnie one more time!

In memory of Don Cook

Name
In lieu of flowers, Kay asks that donations be made to the Museum or UCC Church in memory of Donnie.

Hear Donnie and Kay reminise about their early days in Crested Butte from our “Voices of Elk Avenue” project.  

See the full playlist of Donnie & Kay's oral history here
331 Elk Avenue
Crested Butte, CO 81224
At the corner of 4th and Elk
in Downtown Crested Butte
Mailing Address:
PO Box 2480
Crested Butte, CO 81224

THANK YOU

This site is dedicated to the staff of the Crested Butte Museum and to the memory of Ferdinand and Leola Yaklich, 88 year residents of Crested Butte. Ferd and Leola spent 59 amazing years together, raising their family under the watchful eye of these beautiful mountains. They were here as horses on Elk Avenue turned to men on the moon and a small, unknown coal town turned into a world reknowned ski town. Ferd & Leola were a driving force in building the Crested Butte community and bridged the history of those of 19th century Crested Butte and those of 21st century Crested Butte.

Dedicated by their Children & Grandchildren:
Trudy Yaklich, Fritz Yaklich, Mari Yaklich Ettlinger, Cindi Yaklich, Zeb Yaklich, Zach Yaklich, Ian Yaklich & Collin Harrison

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