Frances “Fran” Ann (Jansen) Cook, age 85, of Quincy, quietly passed away Wednesday evening, September 2, 2026, in the comfort of her home with family by her side. She is now at peace in the loving presence of her Heavenly Father, where she is joyfully reunited with family and dear friends who went before her.

Fran was born in Quincy on February 24, 1941, to Maurice “Butch” and Helen (O’Brien) Jansen. She graduated from Quincy Notre Dame High School and earned her bachelor’s degree from Illinois State University before becoming an elementary teacher at Lincoln School in East Peoria, Illinois. She made a lasting impression on her students and maintained meaningful relationships with many of them throughout her life. She married the love of her life Robert William Cook on August 8, 1970, in St. Peter’s Church. The two met while working together at Kroger during their high school and early college years and shared 56 wonderful years of married life together. She was an avid supporter of historic preservation and architecture and loved making her own historic home of 47 years an inviting and warm place to raise her family and welcome friends.

Fran was a wonderful mother to her three children and played an important role in supporting their successes. She never missed a game, a performance, or the chance to make any celebration special with one of her many delicious meals and desserts. She was a woman of service and dedicated her time volunteering. She made a significant impact through her work with Quincy Preserves, the Quincy Civic Music Association, and the Woman’s City Club. Her love and dedicated support of the arts led her to begin a career as an editor for the Quincy Society of Fine Arts. In her almost 20 years at QSFA, she became the Arts in Education Director and developed the “Art$ Dollar$” program where she poured her heart into researching programs, finding funding and awarding grants to bring art back into schools. Her love of music and involvement with the Quincy Historic Business District resulted in her becoming one of the founding members of “Blues in the District,” a program that is now in its 29th year of bringing free music to Washington Park for all to enjoy.

Fran was preceded in death by her parents, Maurice and Helen Jansen.
Fran is survived by her husband, Robert Cook; her children, Brian Cook of Quincy, Gregory Cook (Casey) of Tacoma, Washington, and Julie McAfee (Jeff) of Louisville, Kentucky; her grandchildren Grace and Oliver Cook, and Eli Meehan.

Fran’s presence will be missed. She will be fondly remembered as a beloved friend, a trusted neighbor, a valued bridge partner, a skilled knitter, and bonus mother to many.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at 10:00 am in the Duker & Haugh Funeral Home followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 am in St. Francis Catholic Church. Internment in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Friday, September 11, 2026, from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm, at Duker & Haugh Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions in Fran’s honor may be made to Arts Quincy (artsquincy.org) or for Blues in the District (thedistrictquincy.com)