Barbara Isabel Coates Rooker

Barbara Isabel (Coates) Rooker
April 19, 1937 – May 16, 2025

Barbara Isabel Rooker, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, educator, and chaplain passed away peacefully on May 16, 2025, at the age of 88.

Born on April 19, 1937, in Wickliffe, Ohio—a suburb of Cleveland—Barbara was the cherished daughter of Jack and Marjorie Coates. She had a brother Glenn, a year younger.  She lived the early part of her life in Wickliffe, Ohio, moving to Wilmette, Illinois in 1955.

Graduating from Maryville College in Tennessee 1959, with a Bachelor’s in Christian Education with a minor in Elementary Education, she was a devoted Child of God. From a young age, she displayed a deep love for learning, a passion that would shape her lifelong dedication to education and the ministry.

On June 27, 1959, Barbara married Paul Frank Rooker of Wilmette, Illinois. Paul was serving in the United States Air Force, and they started their married life in Texas, later moving to various places for the next 16 years – Florida, Illinois, Alabama and eventually ending up in LaVista, Nebraska.  Together, they built a beautiful life centered around family, faith, and service. Barbara was a devoted mother to three children: Tracy, Stephanie and Craig.

Barbara dedicated her professional life to teaching, serving in both private and public schools. Her career later extended into religious education, where she continued to inspire both children and adults through her wisdom, warmth, and unwavering faith as a christian education director, teacher and parent. Her classroom was more than a place of learning, it was a place of encouragement, compassion, and growth. She wanted to serve others and decided to pursue and earned a Masters in Divinity from Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, 1997. Working for all the major hospitals within Omaha performing Chaplain services, often spending nights and many weekends ministering to families and patients in the hospital. After her hospital work, she moved on to providing Chaplain services to many care facilities up and until the pandemic prevented these services.

She had a wonderful soprano voice and sang in duets with Paul early on, and later in many church choirs along with Voices of Omaha. She loved life – enjoyed board games, cards, a cocktail or glass of wine, a Rooker Old Fashioned, steak on the grill, and cooking in general. 

Barb’s final residence was in LaVista, Nebraska and later with Tracy and Clay in Omaha, Nebraska.  She was active in Faith Presbyterian church and was an avid golfer, tennis player and enjoyed traveling. Barb and her daughters took many trips to locations throughout the United States. She took trips with granddaughter Liz to France when she graduated from High School, and then with grandsons Nick and Nate to the Robert Trent Jones golf trail in Alabama after their graduations. She was a social animal, loved being with friends, her children and many grandchildren. 

Her legacy lives on in her seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, each of whom brought her great joy and pride. Known affectionately as "Grandma" or "G-ma," Barbara’s gentle spirit and boundless love will be treasured by all who knew her.

Barbara’s life was a testament to kindness, service, and steadfast devotion—to her family, her students, and her faith. Her impact will continue to be felt in the many lives she touched.

A celebration of Barbara’s life will be held on Saturday June 7, 2025, at 11:00am at Faith Presbyterian Church, LaVista, Nebraska. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her honor to the Nebraska Alzheimer Foundation or a faith-based charity of your choice.

She is predeceased by her parents, Jack and Marjorie, her brother Glenn, her brother-in-law Roy Rooker. She is survived by former husband Paul Rooker and their three children Tracy (Clay) Kristensen of Omaha, Nebraska; Stephanie (David) Bruggeman of Mesa, Arizona; and Craig (Michelle) Rooker of LaVista, Nebraska; Barbara Rooker, sister-in-law, of Phoenix, Arizona; Lee (Sharon) brother-in-law, of Pewaukee, Wisconsin; grandchildren: Elizabeth (Nicholas) Yeager of Tucson, Arizona; Nicholas (Chelsie) Bruggeman of Chandler, Arizona; Nathan (Madison) Bruggeman of Mesa, Arizona; Molly Rooker of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Sam (Breanna) Rooker of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Alex Rooker of Omaha, Nebraska; Aaron (Lexi) Rooker of Bellevue, Nebraska; and seven Great Grand Children.

She taught with love. She lived with grace. She leaves behind a legacy that will not be forgotten. Her Jesus has welcomed this faithful servant - “Glad you’re here, Barb, I’ve been expecting you”.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Nebraska Alzheimer's Association.