Wilderness canoeing enthusiast and outdoor gear maker Dan Cooke has paddled around his final bend on the river. Cooke was 68 when he passed away from brain cancer on July 1, 2024. Cooke, who founded Cooke Custom Sewing in Lino Lakes, Minnesota, was known as “Minnesota’s gear guy” and inspired countless paddlers with his adventures, custom gear, passion for the outdoors and generosity as a mentor and friend.
Wilderness canoeing legend
As tributes from Cooke’s friends and family poured in last week, many recalled his enthusiasm for wilderness travel. Canoeist Kevin Callan described Cooke as: “A pure joy to hang around with… His passion for wilderness travel was infectious, his knowledge of gear and outdoor skills incredible, his smile unforgettable, and his white beard was absolutely legendary.” Cooke symbolized and preached quality time in the wilderness, Callan added.
In a Facebook post, Cooke’s children shared that: “In the last few years, he was able to enjoy time spent canoeing down rivers in Alaska, kayaking in Antarctica, hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro, exploring Iceland, and visiting family across the U.S.”
Cooke’s daughter, Rebecca Langman, added that he was soft-spoken and had a great sense of humor. She said he loved telling people how things worked due to the engineer in him, but it was his work ethic that really stood out. She reminisced about growing up and helping with the family business: “I remember lacing up mukluks before I could tie my own shoes. We helped with cutting out fabric for tarps on the dining room floor. We attended Canoecopia in Madison, Wisconsin, as his helpers and got paid in Oreos,” Langman said.
A legacy of adventure and craftsmanship
Sometimes referred to as Santa Claus for his bushy white beard and extremely organized workshop, Cooke’s quality craftsmanship of tarps, packs and canoe spray skirts will remain one of his legacies. Another legacy is the importance of getting outside.
“He liked to go exploring and be out in the middle of nowhere,” said Langman. “One of my favorite stories about him was from a winter trip he took to Yellowstone National Park about 10 years ago during a cold snap (-40 F). He set off on a remote trail to camp and take photographs. After he had set out for the day, conditions got worse, and the rangers told him he had to come back to the ranger cabin for the night. He had planned so long for this winter trip and wanted to test his gear in those conditions that he built a snow hut up against the side of the ranger cabin and spent the night there.”
Cooke’s son, Nate, is preparing to continue Cooke Custom Sewing. As Nate remarked to the Star Tribune, “For me, it’s mighty big shoes to step into.”
Reflecting on Cooke’s impact and his final days, Rutabaga Paddlesports shop owner and Canoecopia organizer Darren Bush wrote in an emailed tribute: “The last time I saw Dan was in March at Canoecopia. He was sitting in his booth, and by this point, he was almost completely nonverbal due to his tumor. I crouched down next to him and said, ‘Hey Dan, do you have any idea how many of these people love you?’ He looked at me with a little bit of mist in his eyes. I put my hand on his shoulder. ‘Damn near all of them, Dan.’”
In his own words
Cooke’s own reflections on wilderness canoeing in a decade-old interview with Morrall River Films reveal a deep connection to nature and a love for its challenges. He described the awe and serenity of the wilderness, from: “Beautiful sunrises with friends, to paddling across lakes at night when there is just the blackness and a few stars poking out, to the appearance of the northern lights, the howling of wolves in the middle of the night… and your innermost thoughts while you’re laying there in your sleeping bag.” He also said that one of his favorite things was the fury of the weather at its worst.
Cooke also shared his joy for wilderness canoe camping: “It’s the anticipation of what’s around each bend in the lake. It happens at a rate I can enjoy: a stroke and a rest, a stroke and a rest. Pushing on to see what’s around the next corner.”
As the canoeing world mourns the loss of a legend, Cooke’s memory and gear will accompany adventurers on their journeys, ensuring his legacy continues.
For those interested in making donations, the family has suggested supporting the BWCA: “Both Karen and Dan Cooke loved and believed in Saving the Boundary Waters. Please consider donating here.”
Beloved wilderness canoeing community member and custom gear manufacturer Dan Cooke passed away on July 1, 2024. | Feature photo: Bryan Hansel / paddlinglight.com
