Donna Lou Sandhagen Cook

Mrs. Donna Lou Sandhagen Cook, 76, at her lifelong home in Wentworth, passed on Sunday, September 4th, 2016, surrounded by her family and many beloved pets. Donna was born on May 16th, 1940 in Hutchinson, Kansas to the late Carl F. Sandhagen and Pauline Iris Griffin Sandhagen. She was a lifetime member of the Rockingham County Naturalist Club. She will be remembered for her time spent leading many nature walks, and her dedication to educate the public about the native plants. She was a lifelong learner, naturalist painter, photographer, organic farmer and herbalist. She continually won awards for her art at the North Carolina State Fair and Rockingham Community arts festivals. Donna loved to travel, often by train, and was known to take trips cross-country to explore history and see the sites. Donna was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and sister to her family. She was a valued, caring attendee and frequent volunteer of the Rockingham County Friends Meeting. Being an animal lover, she spent years rescuing animals. She nurtured them back to health and provided them with loving homes. She will be deeply missed by her family, friends and community. She was preceded in death by her husband of fifty-three years, Claud F. Cook. Survivors include her children, Brian Lee Cook, Susan Cook Khan and honorary daughter, Tammie Braxton; her granddaughter, Donna Nichole Khan and great-granddaughters, Sophia and Liana; her sister, Carlene Sandhagen-Connolly; her niece, Michelle Carter; and numerous sister-in-laws, nieces, and nephews.