Brian Keith Hooker
Coach Brian Keith Hooker, 59, of Rochester, passed away at 2:32 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, at his residence.
On Sept. 10, 1959, Hooker was born in Rochester to Jack Barth and Carolyn Jane Coplen Hooker. Growing up, he shared his childhood with two sisters, Sheila and Lisa, and a brother, Barth. As a Rochester Zebra, Brian played varsity baseball, football and wrestling. He graduated from RHS as a member of the class of 1977.
In pursuit of his dream to become a teacher and coach, Hooker began classes at Indiana University at Bloomington. In 1982, he earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education and health. He was a member of the men’s fraternity Sigma Phi Epsilon.
Patriotism beckoned and Brian answered the call, serving his country with the U.S. Army. Most of his stint of service was in Arizona where he was stationed at Fort Huachuca. He was an administrative specialist, assisting the chief in test operations from 1982 to 1984. Following his honorable discharge, he returned to the Midwest and attended Western Illinois University in Macomb, Ill., where he began his masters studies.
On July 19, 2003, Brian married the love of his life, Tamera Joan Lapierre, at St. John’s Lutheran Church of Peru. They enjoyed more than 15 years of life’s adventures. The couple attended I.U. football and basketball games. They vacationed at Sanibel Island many times and recently took a memorable trip to Arizona, where Hooker introduced Tammy to Fort Huachuca.
They also enjoyed staying fit, riding their bicycles around the county. With a love for nature, he enjoyed observing the habits of the cardinals who lived in his backyard. An avid sportsman, Brian cheered wildly for the St. Louis Cardinals, Cleveland Browns and of course I.U’s crimson and cream. To relax, he loved to attend as many RHS athletic events per week as possible, attend music concerts and read.
Hooker taught health and physical education for Rochester Community Schools for the last two decades, signing his contract in 1998. He was a member of the RCTA, ISTA, NEA and the Indiana High School Football Coaches Association.
Coach Hooker was a man of all seasons, who loved all sports. He initially coached as an RHS assistant football coach from 1992 to 1994. In 1995 he moved to Triton Schools as a football varsity assistant. As an assistant track coach for Pioneer High School, Brian coached for the 1997 and1998 track seasons.
From 1996 to 2012, he headed up the Rochester Middle School football teams. Brian coached the RHS Zebra varsity baseball team for 15 years from 2000 to 2014, winning multiple sectionals and conference titles for RHS. During the 2013 and 2014 seasons, Hooker coached the RMS track team. In the fall of 2017 and 2018, Coach Hooker could be seen on the sidelines of Barnhart Field, coaching the Zebra varsity football team.
As a revered coach and teacher, Hooker was always one who could be counted on by students, athletes and colleagues in the classroom and on or off the field. He was passionate about sports, and treasured the friendships he garnered. Paramount in his life was his loving family. He adored his wife and greatly admired his children, brother and sisters.
He was an amazing uncle to his nieces and nephews. His greatest attribute was being a grandpa. He always enjoyed great fun with his grands. They established traditions throughout the year, the most memorable being a “Charlie Brown Party.” He would lead them with dancing to Charlie Brown music. They all enjoyed laughter and fun, making great memories.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Tammy; a daughter: Jodi Richardson of Marshfield, Wisc.; a stepson: Jesse (Lauri) Atkinson of Rochester; three grandchildren: Alice, Harper and Hannah Atkinson; two sisters: Sheila Bohm and Lisa Keefe, both of Rochester; nieces and nephews: Callie Redington, Rob Redington, Shannon Summers, K.C. (Tracy) Riegle, Jada Hooker, Jane Hooker, Whitley Barkman, Delaney Barkman, Alivia Riegle, Sophia Lapierre and Ryan Lapierre; father and mother-in-law: David and Nancy Lapierre of Logansport and brother-in-law: Mark Lapierre of Greensboro, N.C.
Preceding him in death are his parents, Jack and Carolyn Hooker and a brother, Barth Hooker on March 15, 2013.
A celebration of the life will be at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 6, at Rochester Community High School gymnasium, 1 Zebra Lane, Rochester. Friends may visit with the family from 1 to 6 p.m. on Sunday at the school. Military honors will be conducted by the Fulton County Veteran’s Honor Guard and the U.S. Army Honors Team. The family requests you wear your I.U. hat or RHS hat. Please enter the gym at the Zebbie doors.
Funeral services will be at4 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 7, 2019, at St. James Lutheran Church, 430 9th St., Logansport. Pastor K.C. Dehning will officiate. Memorials may be made to the RHS Zebra Coaches Scholarship Fund, 1 Zebra Lane, Rochester, IN 46975 or to Kindred Hospice, 1476 W. 18th St., Rochester, IN 46975. Electronic expressions of sympathy may be made to his family at www.goodfamilyfh.com.