In Loving Memory of Hooker Heggestad

Hooker Ashley Heggestad, age 54, was born on December 11, 1970, in St. Joseph, Missouri, and resided in Lafayette, Colorado. He leaves behind a legacy of laughter, adventure, and deep devotion to his faith, family and friends.

He is survived by his wife, Charity, and their children: Hank, Arwen, Araya, Kennedy, Kori, Lilly, and Layla. He is also survived by his sister Christine and niece Lauren of Kansas City, as well as his Colorado nieces Skylar and Myra, and nephews Miles, Mason, and Griffin. He was preceded in death by his parents, Gene and Claudia Heggestad and his grandparents, Reuben and Betty Heggestad and Hooker and Dorothy Tospon.

Hooker spent the majority of his childhood growing up in Wichita, Kansas. There he developed a love of tennis and baseball and excelled at both. He also found his love of fishing there, going out to El Dorado Lake with his dad and friends. He cherished the lifelong friendships he made in Wichita and was still close with many of them today. Hooker went on to attend the University of Kansas, where—by his own account—he majored in pool, hacky sack, frisbee, and other extracurriculars. He later earned a degree in Computer Science from Wichita State University, where he and Charity first met. They were married on February 6, 1999 in Marion, Kansas.

A passionate music lover, Hooker made Charity a mixtape after they first met—a treasured keepsake she still holds dear. In the 1990s, he dove into the DJ scene, playing gigs from Kansas to Texas. He developed a lifelong love of thrifting and crate-digging for vinyl. His extensive record collection is a testament to his eclectic taste and dedication to the art of music. His Spotify playlists are shared with many friends and family.

Although Hooker had been in Colorado over 25 years, he was still a loyal fan of KU basketball and the Kansas City Chiefs and truly enjoyed watching the games. He worked in the IT industry for decades, always eager to learn and grow. Though he was a dedicated professional, his heart was always with his family. He was a proud foster dad and cherished every moment spent with his children, nieces, and nephews. Known for his one-of-a-kind sense of humor, Hooker had a gift for making people laugh and was always “one of the kids” during family gatherings—playing games, goofing around, and creating unforgettable memories.

An adventurer at heart, Hooker loved planning trips and exploring the outdoors. Whether it was fly fishing, skiing, snowboarding, camping, hiking, backpacking, biking, rafting, paddleboarding, kayaking, canoeing, or gardening—he embraced every opportunity to connect with nature and share those experiences with loved ones.

As we remember Hooker today, we also acknowledge that May is Mental Health Awareness Month. If you know someone who may be struggling, please reach out. A simple “Are you okay?” can make a world of difference.