1931
Harley
2010
Harley T. "Lee Harley" Rooker
June 12, 1931 — February 21, 2010
Harley T. Rooker, of East Moline, died Sunday, February 21, 2010 at Trinity Pathway Hospice is Bettendorf, Iowa.
Mr. Rooker was born June 12, 1931 in Sparta, WI to Lee and Mildred McOmber Rooker. He married Donna Nolan on August 17, 1953.
While serving on the USS Valley Forge and USS Hornet during the Korean War, Mr. Rooker was a drummer in the Navy band, something he spoke of with great pride. Following his Navy service, he attended Brown's School of Broadcasting in Mpls., MN and began a career in radio and later television broadcasting using the on-air name of Lee Harley- combining his father's first name with his own.
Mr. Rooker worked at television and radio stations in Lacrosse and Platteville, WI, Mason City, IA, before ending his career with WQAD TV-8 in Moline, IL. Mr. Rooker remained an avid gardener throughout his life and enjoyed jazz, building a large collection of jazz albums while working as a DJ at various stations.
He is survived by his wife, Donna, and children Lora James (John) and Timothy in the Quad-Cities, Kevin in Chicago, and Brian (Vickie) in Lacrosse, WI, as well as his grandsons, Michael and Samuel James, and Harley's sister Barbara Willis in Indiana.
Inurnment will be at the Mount Hope Cemetery in Sparta WI. There will be no local service. Memorials may be made to his family.
The family would like to thank the staff at Trinity Pathway Hospice, Hope Creek Nursing Home, and Trinity West Medical Center for all their kindness.
Mr. Rooker was born June 12, 1931 in Sparta, WI to Lee and Mildred McOmber Rooker. He married Donna Nolan on August 17, 1953.
While serving on the USS Valley Forge and USS Hornet during the Korean War, Mr. Rooker was a drummer in the Navy band, something he spoke of with great pride. Following his Navy service, he attended Brown's School of Broadcasting in Mpls., MN and began a career in radio and later television broadcasting using the on-air name of Lee Harley- combining his father's first name with his own.
Mr. Rooker worked at television and radio stations in Lacrosse and Platteville, WI, Mason City, IA, before ending his career with WQAD TV-8 in Moline, IL. Mr. Rooker remained an avid gardener throughout his life and enjoyed jazz, building a large collection of jazz albums while working as a DJ at various stations.
He is survived by his wife, Donna, and children Lora James (John) and Timothy in the Quad-Cities, Kevin in Chicago, and Brian (Vickie) in Lacrosse, WI, as well as his grandsons, Michael and Samuel James, and Harley's sister Barbara Willis in Indiana.
Inurnment will be at the Mount Hope Cemetery in Sparta WI. There will be no local service. Memorials may be made to his family.
The family would like to thank the staff at Trinity Pathway Hospice, Hope Creek Nursing Home, and Trinity West Medical Center for all their kindness.
To send flowers to the family in memory of Harley T. "Lee Harley" Rooker, please visit our flower store.