James A. Hook

James Allen “Jim” Hook, 67, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, after a long battle of Frontal Temporal Dementia.

Jim grew up in Pocatello where he graduated from Highland High School. He attended the diesel tech program at ISU and spent the next 38 years at Western States Caterpillar where he made many wonderful friends.

Jim married Jean Rapolla and had two beautiful children, Jake and Jessica. They divorced and Jim later married Debbie in 2002.

Jim loved hunting, especially his Canadian bear hunts with his best friend, Blake Bullock. He also loved to fish, whether it was on the Salmon River, a reservoir or on the ice. His true passion was team roping and sharing that passion with the younger generation, especially the Kiggins boys, Lexus Olds, and Tietsie and Kruz Fly.

Jim also had a love for draft horses and spent many hours driving the team through McCammon and in the pasture with the bobsled. He also enjoyed the wagon trips in the Sheep camp.

Jim was an extremely talented carpenter, and all you had to do was mention something and he would have it built in no time.

Jim touched many lives and never knew a stranger. He had many wonderful people come into his life, especially during his battle with FTD.

A very special thank you to Stephanie Murphy, Jim’s amazing sister-in-law. She always brightened Jim’s days with a daily phone call and videochat and wonderful care packages. He loved her so much.

A special thank you to Lisa Wilburn, our angel from Alaska, who selflessly gave up her time to do respite care for the last four years; To Jordan Gardner and Branson Fonnesbeck for providing wonderful companionship and respite care; also, Enhabit Hospice, especially Robyn, who Jim shared a special bond with and thank you to the Gables 2 for their wonderful care.

Lindsey Kiggins, you were our rock and kept us all together through this tough journey.

Thank you to everyone who took time out of their life to visit Jim.

Jim is preceded in death by his father James Earl Hook and uncles Pete Morey and Kenny Morey.

He is survived by his sweetheart, Debbie of McCammon; mother Betty Hook of Pocatello; son Jake (Karla) Hook of Cathedral City, CA; daughter Jessica (Emmanuel) Sarpong of Palm Springs, CA; grandsons Steven, Ethan, Noah, Isaiah, Ian; granddaughter Emmy; and adopted grandsons Rowdy, Riggin, and Ridge; brother Tony Hook of Pocatello, and sister Chris Spencer of Helena, MT.

A graveside service will be held on Sunday, May 4, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. at the Norton Cemetery in McCammon, ID 83250. Following the graveside, there will be a Celebration of Life at Jim’s Legacy Arena, 3618 S. Marsh Creek Rd. McCammon, ID, from 4-6 pm for food, drinks and stories.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Idaho District 4 High School Rodeo, 2530 Neibaur Rd, American Falls, ID 83211. A donation drop will be available at the graveside service and the celebration of life following the graveside service.

Condolences may be shared at wilksfuneralhomes.com

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