Cole
Date of Passing: 03/22/2026
Message to Cole: Cole May 6, 2009-March 22, 2026 Cole, we miss you beyond words. After nearly 17 years as a loyal member of our family, Cole has traveled over the rainbow bridge to reunite with his girls: his big sister Missi and the love of his life, Harlow.
Tell us about Cole: Cole was the fourth lab to come into our lives. Two years after adopting his sister from Chestnut Hill Labradors, Kansasville, WI, we got puppy Cole. He and Missi had the same (Italian-born) sire but different (US-born) moms. Where Missi was calm and no trouble, Cole was excitable and mischievous. Missi was named after the Mississippi River and Cole was named for the Columbia River.
While Cole spent his final years as a sweet, gentle soul to all who knew him, he was once the definition of a rambunctious young Lab. He lived for the simple joys: romping through the forest preserve, rolling in fresh snow, and feeling the wind in his ears from a car window. He was a true water dog, happy in anything from Lake Michigan and the Des Plaines River to a backyard puppy pool.
In his younger years, he certainly kept us on our toes. In characteristic Labrador fashion, he possessed a "creative" palate—happily consuming socks, mittens, an entire bag of fun-size Snickers, and even his own leather collar (though he politely left the buckle behind 😆).
Cole loved with all his heart. He was intuitive and warm-hearted, offering kindness even to the most unfriendly dogs. He made us want to be worthy of his loyalty, and he taught us how to embrace every moment with boundless enthusiasm.