Pastor Leonard Duane Cook, 79, of Elkhart, was called home to be with the Lord on Friday, December 19, 2025, at his residence. He was born in Kendallville, IN on May 25, 1946, to the late Estin and Mary Alice (Wadsworth) Cook.

Leonard was also preceded in death by his sister Joy. He is survived by his loving wife, Janet K. (Canen) Cook; daughters, Lisa (Chad) Mills, Theresa (David) Cummings, and Venessa Cook; nine grandchildren; one great grandchild; and siblings, David, Joseph, Roger, Stephen, Ellen, and Marilyn.

Friends and family are called together on Saturday, January 31, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St. in Elkhart. A Memorial service will immediately follow at 12:30 p.m. with Apostle Leon Walters of Christian International officiating. The family kindly asks any guests remaining for the service at 12:30, please allow the family to have a little private time prior to their services. Memorial donations may be given to the River of Life Community Church.

A Celebration of life service will take place on Sunday, February 1, 2026, at 10:30am at Life By Design Community’s Worship Service, held at the Fairfield Inn and Suites, 3501 Plaza Ct. Elkhart, IN 46514.

Leonard was a faithful and devoted man to his family and friends. He and his wife Janet founded Praysers Ministries, Inc. (1994) and later planted the River of Life Community Church (1996) and Life By Design Community (2025) in Elkhart. Leonard was ordained in 1982 and devoted his life to teaching God’s word and serving the church.

Leonard was passionate about serving his community by working for the Mission, working alongside other community members at local soup kitchens, helping to build the tiny homes for the Mission as a skilled carpenter, doing repairs and tilling the garden for the SPA, and was awarded Volunteer of the Year at the Salvation Army. He was always there to serve anyone in need and had the ability to fix just about anything.

In his spare time, when he allowed himself to take it easy, he enjoyed fishing, especially if he could take a grandson. Leonard enjoyed camping in the wilderness and fishing trips to Canada where he could be surrounded by God’s wonder and natural beauty. Words cannot express how much he will be missed by his loving family, his church family and by the lives he touched within his community.