Obituary for Tad W. Hooker
Tad W. Hooker (Mighty Midget), 45, of Basehor, KS, died on Aug 13th, 2023 at home following a ten-month battle with Colon Cancer, surrounded by his loving family.
Visitation will be held Thursday, Aug 17th from 6-8 pm at First Baptist Church of Basehor (1410 155th St, Basehor, KS 66007). A Service to Celebrate Tad’s Life will be 11 am Friday, Aug 18th also at the Church, with graveside services immediately following at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Kansas City, KS.
Tad was born on Oct 28th, 1977, at Bethany Hospital in Kansas City, KS. He was the youngest of four children to Bill and Mary Hooker. Tad was a lifelong resident of Basehor, KS. He attended and graduated from Basehor-Linwood High School in 1996, where he lettered in football. After graduating, Tad did several occupations where he truly enjoyed working with his hands and with people, including home construction and concrete work. However, his most loved job was at Basehor High School as Head Custodian. He loved the job not only because he loved the school, but he really loved the kids and staff. He watched out for each and every one of them as if they were his own. He loved everything about the school. Tad was a lifelong member of the First Baptist Church of Basehor. He loved the Lord and was lucky enough to have an incredible support team from the pastors there and the members. The home visits and support from the pastors and members for Tad during this time was so vital in his fight.
Tad loved all things country, he loved riding his dirt bike and watching Supercross. If you couldn’t find Tad in the trees trying to snag a record-breaking whitetail, you could find him near the water with his nephew catching their daily limit. When the weather gets cold, if you know him at all, you know you will find him armchair coaching his favorite teams, KU, Nebraska, and the Chiefs. However, his true love of all was his family. There was nothing he was prouder of than that. He adored his nieces and nephews and his great-nieces and nephews. He loved going to their sporting events from little league games all the way up to state football and softball games, or just watching the babies crawl around and play. Tad’s relationship with his mom was a special one. They had a friendship envied by all.
Tad had a true superpower that not all people have. His love of people and the ability to talk to anyone anywhere was unbelievable. Some might say he got that from his father, but he took it to another level. He was the “drop everything and is there for you guy”. Tad was a friend to all even if you had just met. What some might not know, is that he remembered all of your important milestones, as if you were family.
He leaves behind his mother Mary Hooker, two sisters: Krista Lewandowski and husband Keith, Shelly Rusk and husband Scott. nieces and nephews: Jordan (Steve) Sutlick, Kaitlyn (Ian) James, Haley (Cole) Portenier, Payton, Parker, Paige, and Piper Rusk. great-nieces and nephews: Mackinleigh and Miles James, Brynlynn Rusk, Charlotte and Amelia Portenier, and Callihan Sutlick.
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents Robert and Mary Helen Brown, paternal grandparents Tom and Dorothy Hooker, father William Hooker, and brother Jeffrey Hooker.
In lieu of flowers the Hooker family request contributions to be made to the Tad Hooker Memorial Fund at Community National Bank in Basehor. These contributions will help fund the scholarships offered in Tad's name for Basehor-Linwood High School Graduates.
Visitation will be held Thursday, Aug 17th from 6-8 pm at First Baptist Church of Basehor (1410 155th St, Basehor, KS 66007). A Service to Celebrate Tad’s Life will be 11 am Friday, Aug 18th also at the Church, with graveside services immediately following at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Kansas City, KS.
Tad was born on Oct 28th, 1977, at Bethany Hospital in Kansas City, KS. He was the youngest of four children to Bill and Mary Hooker. Tad was a lifelong resident of Basehor, KS. He attended and graduated from Basehor-Linwood High School in 1996, where he lettered in football. After graduating, Tad did several occupations where he truly enjoyed working with his hands and with people, including home construction and concrete work. However, his most loved job was at Basehor High School as Head Custodian. He loved the job not only because he loved the school, but he really loved the kids and staff. He watched out for each and every one of them as if they were his own. He loved everything about the school. Tad was a lifelong member of the First Baptist Church of Basehor. He loved the Lord and was lucky enough to have an incredible support team from the pastors there and the members. The home visits and support from the pastors and members for Tad during this time was so vital in his fight.
Tad loved all things country, he loved riding his dirt bike and watching Supercross. If you couldn’t find Tad in the trees trying to snag a record-breaking whitetail, you could find him near the water with his nephew catching their daily limit. When the weather gets cold, if you know him at all, you know you will find him armchair coaching his favorite teams, KU, Nebraska, and the Chiefs. However, his true love of all was his family. There was nothing he was prouder of than that. He adored his nieces and nephews and his great-nieces and nephews. He loved going to their sporting events from little league games all the way up to state football and softball games, or just watching the babies crawl around and play. Tad’s relationship with his mom was a special one. They had a friendship envied by all.
Tad had a true superpower that not all people have. His love of people and the ability to talk to anyone anywhere was unbelievable. Some might say he got that from his father, but he took it to another level. He was the “drop everything and is there for you guy”. Tad was a friend to all even if you had just met. What some might not know, is that he remembered all of your important milestones, as if you were family.
He leaves behind his mother Mary Hooker, two sisters: Krista Lewandowski and husband Keith, Shelly Rusk and husband Scott. nieces and nephews: Jordan (Steve) Sutlick, Kaitlyn (Ian) James, Haley (Cole) Portenier, Payton, Parker, Paige, and Piper Rusk. great-nieces and nephews: Mackinleigh and Miles James, Brynlynn Rusk, Charlotte and Amelia Portenier, and Callihan Sutlick.
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents Robert and Mary Helen Brown, paternal grandparents Tom and Dorothy Hooker, father William Hooker, and brother Jeffrey Hooker.
In lieu of flowers the Hooker family request contributions to be made to the Tad Hooker Memorial Fund at Community National Bank in Basehor. These contributions will help fund the scholarships offered in Tad's name for Basehor-Linwood High School Graduates.