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Oak Park And River Forest High School River Forest High School Ball State University Valparaiso University

FUNERAL HOME

Pruzin & Little Funeral Service - Crown Point

811 E. Franciscan Drive

Crown Point, Indiana

Kathy Hooks Obituary

KATHY HOOKS GARY, IN Kathy Hooks, age 69, of Gary, passed away Saturday, October 15, 2011. She is survived by her husband of 47 years, Collis; sister, Gayle (Bill) Sherman of Kansas; niece, Leslie Lopes of Colorado; grandniece, Keisha Lopes of Colorado; four aunts: Dorothy Robinson of Hobart, Florence (Jack) Patterson of Florida, Patricia Clinton of Shelby, and D'Maris Miller of Crown Point; and many cousins. Preceded in death by her parents: Leslie and Alice Ann Seegers. Kathy was a retired teacher from the River Forest School Corporation with 41 years of service at River Forest High School in New Chicago, IN. She was head coach of the academic team, head of the science department, and voted "Teacher of the Year" by her peers in 1985. She was Quill & Scroll Teacher of the Year in 1999, Northwest Indiana Coach of the Year in 2000, and a nominee for Indiana Academic Coach of the Year in 2005. Kathy was a life member of St. John's United Church of Christ, Crown Point. She was a graduate of Crown Point High School, Class of 1960, a graduate of Ball State University, Class of 1964, and received her masters degree from Valparaiso University. Kathy was a member of Kappa Delta Pi National Honor & Merit Society, Sigma Zeta National Science & Mathematics Honor Society, the Indiana Retired Teacher Association, and Delta Kappa Gamma, Women Educators Sorority (Rho Chapter). Family and friends may call at Pruzin & Little Funeral Service, 811 E. Franciscan Drive, (south of St. Rd. 231 on St. Rd. 55) Crown Point, IN on Wednesday, October 19, 2011 from 3:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Funeral services will be held Thursday, October 20, 2011 at 11:00 A.M. at St. John's United Church of Christ, 1288 S. Indiana Ave, Crown Point, IN with Rev. Dan Barnum-Steggerda officiating. Cremation will follow. Memorials preferred to the Susan B. Koman Breast Cancer Foundation. Family and friends may share an online condolence or memory at: www.pruzinfuneralservice.com

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Published by The Times from Oct. 18 to Oct. 19, 2011.

Memories and Condolences
for Kathy Hooks

15 Entries

Dominic Hurley

October 22, 2011

Mrs. Hooks was an amazing person, teacher, and academic team coach. Her passion for science and the way she taught so well rubbed off on many of her students, myself included. Science practices with her were some of the best times of my high school career, and if it were not for her, I probably wouldn't be pursuing a degree in chemistry today. She was just an intelligent, thoughtful, and funny person. Thank you so much for everything! I and many others miss you a great deal! Our lives are richer for having the pleasure of knowing you.

Beverly Hack Mistretta

October 20, 2011

Collis, I was saddened to hear of Kathy's passing. My prayers are with you. Kathy and I attended CPHS and BSU together. Our freshman year (to our surprise) we roomed across the hall from each other. I considered her a valued friend.

October 20, 2011

Mr Hooks,

Kathy was loved by many. The lives of the people she touched have lost a part of them in her passing. My children were blessed to know her and to have been taught by her in some way, shape or form. Heaven has found a Glorious Angel. To know that she will always be with us in spirit seems to be some comfort. God Bless you and you will always be in our prayers.

Dawn Aguilar-Stojancevich &
Fifth Third Bank Miller Office

Catherine Baughman

October 20, 2011

Thank you so much Mrs Hooks for your dedication to your students!!! Loved being one of your students and studying science! I continued and have an ASN. My thoughts and prayers are with your many family and friends that will miss you today and always!

Vincent Pelfrey

October 19, 2011

I was saddened to hear of Mrs. Hooks' passing. She was an excellent teacher and coach. My sympathies to Mr. Hooks and the rest of her family.

October 19, 2011

Collis,
So sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. She had quite a career and certainly made an impression on her students.
Don and Sandy Perry Loeffler
Waukesha,WI

Brittaney Robison

October 19, 2011

Mrs. Hooks was one of my favorite teachers, she instilled a sense of respect and a passion for both science and otis spunkmeyer cookies. She was a phenomenal teacher and I learned to respect her. The longer I knew her, the more I admired her. She is one person who could never be replaced.

RICHARD&KATHLEEN SPIROFF

October 19, 2011

MAY GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU

Tracy (Pavy) Baimakovich

October 19, 2011

I feel very honored to have had the pleasure of being in Mr. Hooks classes for 3 out of my 4 years at River Forest. She had a method that made you learn. Simple at that. I do think she also had eyes in the back of her head :). I am proud to have been her student when she won the "Teacher of the year" Award. She truly deserved it. If there is one thing I find most important in life it's "make a difference in someone's life" - simple but profound. I truly believe she did this to all who knew her and without doubt she did this for me. My thoughts and prayes go out to her family.

October 19, 2011

I knew Nancy's husband, Collis, well when we were classmates in the CPHS class of 1958. Although both our families lived in Miller Beach for much of the same time period, we unfortunately didn't meet, something I regret. I'm very sorry for this loss. Nancy led a life of quality and accomplishment.

Dick Turner, Porter, In

Brandon Dothager

October 19, 2011

Mrs. Hooks was an amazing person with amazing drive to pass her vast knowledge down to future generations. Despite being embattled with cancer, she coached our Science Super Bowl team. I will never forget the Shamrock Shakes she would always get us for our long practices, and the Cubs-Cardinals rivarly we shared. I know I speak for all Ingots when I say she will be dearly missed, especially by Mr. Baron/Weitzel/Whiting and the academic team.

Jennifer Cook

October 18, 2011

Truly inspiring. She set me on my science path. After having her classes, there were no other options for me. I will always remember her fondly.
Jennifer Cook Class of 92

Jenny Ramos

October 18, 2011

Such a wonderful person and teacher. She was an inspiration to achieve higher than average. She will be missed by many. I truly feel blessed to have known and been taught by this wonderful lady.
Jenny (Kanizar) Ramos

Peggy Chnupa Hinckley

October 18, 2011

Kathy was a role model for me as a young teacher. She was dedicated and also believed in speaking her mind, even when others did not want to hear her. I regret I am in Budapest and unable to pay my respects. She was one class act!

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