Ellen Zimmerman Hooker's Obituary
Ellen Zimmerman Hooker, 88, of Millstadt (formally of St. Charles, IL) passed away peacefully Thursday, February 5, 2015. Ellen was born in Beirut, Lebanon to David and Margaret Zimmerman. Ellen's father taught at The American University in Beirut. Her parents were also missionaries in the Middle East. Prior to World War II breaking out, the family returned to their home in Buffalo, NY. The family eventually moved to Madison, WI where Ellen finished High School. She attended the University of Wisconsin where she received her Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (1949) and her Master's Degree in Nursing (1950).
Ellen married Arthur Hooker July 5, 1950 in Madison, WI. They moved to Champaign-Urbana in 1959 and Ellen continued her education at University of Illinois and received her Doctorate in Vocation and Technical Education. Ellen taught at the Burnham School of Nursing at University of Illinois until 1981. Ellen finished her career with the Edward Hines Jr. Veterans Hospital in Hines, IL where she was Patient Education Coordinator for the Spinal Cord Injury Unit.
Ellen has been a staff nurse, head nurse, and clinical instructor in a number of institutions. She served on the Health Occupations faculty of the College of Education, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She also chaired the research committee of the American Association of Spinal Cord Injury Nurses. She served as president of that organization from 1987 to 1988 and was also on their board of directors. In 1989, Ellen was presented the Nurses' Alumni Organizations' Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Wisconsin. In 1990, she received the Outstanding Contribution to Spinal Cord Injury Nursing Award from the American Association of Spinal Cord Injury Nurses (AASCIN). She was a member of the editorial review board, Spinal Cord Injury Nursing, and authored numerous professional publications.
During her lifetime, Ellen travelled the world with her husband, Art, and her children, David and Meg. She continued her worldly adventures later in life with her best friend, Pat Sibley. She has done everything from Whale watching in Hawaii to riding a zip line in Costa Rica.
Ellen was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur Hooker, her parents, David and Margaret Zimmerman, her brother, David Zimmerman, her brother-in-law, Brady "Rip" Robinson, and her sister-in-law, Virginia Zimmerman.
Ellen is survived by her son, David (Sandy) Hooker, her daughter, Meg Wessel, her granddaughter, Casey Wessel, her sister, Joyce Robinson, her brother, Pat Zimmerman, and her sister-in-law, Myra Zimmerman. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to be made to the Belleville Humane Society or to Hospice of Southern Illinois.
A Memorial to celebrate Ellen's life will be held on Sunday, February 15, 2015 beginning at 1:00 pm at Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, IL, followed by The Memorial Service at 2:00 pm, with Pastor Peter III officiating. A church fellowship luncheon will follow after the service.
Ellen will be laid to rest at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Lodi, WI next to her husband, Arthur L. Hooker.
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