Many people here knew John and all were his friend. I'm sad to report he has passed away. He was an amazing inspiration to us all, God bless him .
I did not know John but may he Rest In Peace!
Prayers up for all his loved ones.
Bisch
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.
Prayers for the family.
Prayers and condolences for those that knew him sent upon an arrow swift
For those who didnt know John he was the blind bowhunter. Even though having such a handicap John was a successful bowhunter . He spoke at numerous gatherings and many articles were written about him . I hope someone will come on here and tell some stories, John would like that!...Tim
He was bow hunting before I was born, and has killed more game than I'll ever see. What an inspiration, on a number of levels!
I hope his passing was gentle, and that his family and friends find peace. May there be many joyful memories to sustain them.
Killdeer
Deepest sympathy to his family and friends. I enjoyed reading about his hunts.
Sorry to hear that Tim. I've read about John's hunting experiences and his loosing his vison and his transition to hunting with "other's" eyes. He was quite a gentleman and a persistant hunter. The last time I saw his Shooting Demonstration was at the Trad/Primative Expo at Whelling WV in 2006. We will be misting a Trad Archer Icon!
Larry
Sad news, hope his family finds peace...
Very entertaining speaker.
:pray: :pray: May he rest in peace.......
Very Sad News...Thoughts and Prayers go out to his Family...
Prayers for the family.
Sorry to hear this.I had only met John one time and that was at the PBS Banquet in 2010 in Nashville.He was certainly an inspiration to all that knew and read about him or seen him shoot.
My heart is saddened by this news, I spent a week in antelope camp with him he was a great guy .
Lenny Rock was his sighter on this hunt .
God bless him and his family !
(http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo359/luckyjack123/JohnRook.jpg)
Sorry about the picture quality this was before digital photography .
I remember reading about him in Bowhunter magazine years before I met him and was amazed .
I was really amazed when I met him , he was a true gentlemen .
I know Lenny will be at a loss. I know Lenny anad had the pleasure of meeting John briefly at a shoot year ago. Great man and he has inspiried many to shoot archery.
Lord watch over this man and be with the family and friends as they morn this loss.
One of archery's greatest.
John fell into a windmill base and broke some ribs on this hunt , but stayed and killed an antelope . John is the 3rd from the left Lenny is right beside him .
(http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/oo359/luckyjack123/Antelopecrew.jpg)
Sad news indeed. He was an inspiration to all all archers and proof that archery can be enjoyed by everyone, no matter what their phisical condition.
My prayers for the family.
I also I'm saddened by this news. Some years it would be a full year until I would see John again. Usually at Denton Hill. All I would have to say it good to see you John and he would reply " Its good to hear you Jeff". How he could reconize a voice from one year to the next was always such a positive event, made the trip worth it without shooting.
Always enjoyed John and Lenny talking about their hunts.
RIP John. Jeff
There was and will only ever be ONE John Rook. His vision extended far beyond what mortal eyes can see. A quiet icon has left us behind, and I feel for his family and friends tonight.
Very sad to hear. I was fortunate enough to talk with John on a few occasions and shoot a 3-d range with him once. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.
I met him a number of years ago at ETAR. I wanted to ask him for his autograph on a Traditonal Bowhunter magazine that featured him, but was uncomfortable asking a blind man to sign my magazine. Big mistake on my part-Mr. Rook was a heck of a man!!!
May God bless his family and John will be missed...I saw him once at a banquet dinner for the Traditional Bowhunters of Maryland and he told us of a story of him and Lenny on a hunt where John fell from a small tree stand and nearly ripped his ear off hitting every branch down and Lenny had some needle and thread with him that he always carries and sewn Johns ear back on and they had to put John in the back of a small pickup and headed to the hospital..On the way they hit a pothole and John fell out of the truck and if I remember correctly got a broken leg as well...Them two were like peas and carrots together and I also remember some nice deer mounts were on the wall and John was showing us how he shot and Lenny being Johns eyes and as a joke Lenny had him pulling the bow towards the deer mounts instead of the target ...Had us in stitchs them two...That will never leave my mind and John didn't see it as a handicap but just part of life..What a man and surely will be missed by many...Keefers <><
Rest in peace.
Glenn
My condolences to John's family and friends. His incredible spirit was an inspiration to all. He will be missed.
Sad news for sure.
May he rest in peace and prayers send for the friends and Family of John.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to John's family.
Man oh man am I sorry to hear this. I have some great stories about John. I'll relate them later. Thanks for the info, Tim.
I had the pleasure Of spending some time with John last summer on the phone. we talked for over an hour about hunting. He sent me one of his arrows to hunt with. I will say a prayer for his family. John is now in a better place
I never got the chance to meet him but I heard a lot of great things about him. God bless.
Prayers of peace for John & his family.
I just got back from johns house. And his wife Barbra is doing well, and I know she appreciates all the kind things people are saying about john
I remember reading about his hunts a long time back.
God Bless and prayers for his family and friends.
It was an honor to meet John and listen to his stories when he visited at the booth I was helping at at Denton Hill. He is a true inspiration and embodies the traditional archery spirit. Prayers for God's blessing to John and his family.
I had the pleasure Of spending some time with John last summer on the phone. we talked for over an hour about hunting. He sent me one of his arrows to hunt with. I will say a prayer for his family. John is now in a better place
Spoke at our Wisconsin Traditional Archers Banquet a few years ago and left us all laughing. Another good one heads upstairs.
John gave me an autographed arrow when we were on a hunt together. I will cherish it. RIP John.
Prayers are with you John. You saw better than most of us. Mike
I have read a few stories of his hunts. What a inspiration. Prayers for his loved ones and Gods speed brother.
I just read this and am extremely saddened by this news. A lot of folks have no idea what an inspiration this man was to bowhunters everywhere. Back in May of 1998 John was chosen as the recipient of Safari Club International's Special Hunter of the Year Award. It was a very big deal allowing him to be honored in Reno, NV that spring. He got to meet General Schwarzkopf, then U.S. V.P Dan Quayle, General John Yeager, as well as his favorite.. Bo Derek. He was also awarded a world class bowhunt in Australia guided by Mick McCormick. John's good friend Lenny Rock went along as John's eyes/sighter. There was a full color featured article about the hunt in the July/Aug. 1998 issue of Safari Magazine, written by Bob Markworth. Frankly, I don't think they expected any success guiding a completely blind bowhunter shooting a longbow. John and Lenny showed them.. and did us proud. John came home with four beautiful animals including two Red Stags, a Sambar bull and a Rusa Deer. I believe a couple of the animals were not only big but world class or world record animals at the time. John's wife Barb kept me updated with hand written letters of thanks (I was the one who nominated him for the honor). On John's return he made be a cassette tape of his entire hunt, blow by blow, newspaper clippings, photos, etc. Before John lost his sight he was the Ohio Barebow Champion '60-'63, I believe. He began having eye problems in '67. Had his left removed in '69. Was legally blind in '79 and totally blind in '81. When I was compiling data for his nomination in '97 he had already taken over 30 big game animals with his bow including 9 whitewtails; 5 bear; antelope; mule deer; mountain lion, etc. this was all after he was totally blind mind you. John freely gave demonstrations to handicapped children teaching them, as he said "what they can do... not what they can't do." As previously stated, John Rook was not only exceptional but phenomenal. He was the "true spirit of archery and bowhunting". My prayers for his friends and family. In great respect,Barry Wensel
Barry, You summed John up perfectly-
John was a fine bowhunter and an even finer man-
God Speed John!
A very sad day, but he now hunts in heaven with Fred, Glenn, and those bowhunters that endeavored to make traditional archery what it is today. Godspeed Mr. Rook.
Barb is making the arrangements today at Fox funeral home .It's located here in Boardman Ohio, when I get more information on dates and time, I'll post them here.
Prayers for a guiding light in our sport.
Just to know his story is a bless.
The man is gone but his trail remains vivid.
Seems like an incredible person. Thoughts and prayers to the family.
Read alot of stories about his adventures over the years.
A true inspiration in many ways,..He will be missed.
Prayers for his family and friends.
I only saw John at ETAR each year and usually had a few minutes of conversation. I regret not taking the time to sit and talk more.
He was a very nice guy that accomplished much and will be missed.
Mike
Rest in peace John. May God comfort all who know and miss him.
I shared a camp with John on a Texas hog/javelina hunt. He was a real hoot and had quite a sense of humor! What a privilege to spend just a weekend with him. He will be dearly missed.
It's a sad day for bow hunting. John was a unique individual with an indomitable spirit. Everyone who knew him admired him. We all will miss him.
Lenny Rock was Johns very best friend he took him on many hunting trips .When you hunted with John you didnt hunt at all but helped him, there is not many people generous enough to do that. They had so many stories together it was really fun to sit down and listen and all the pranks on John and he'd just laugh and have fun with it. His hunt to Austrailia was his high point in his hunting life and the Wensel brothers were mostly responsible for that, very good of them . Several times we tried to buy books or tapes from Gene and Barry for John but they would never take any money.Many people helped John he was a great person....Tim
Very Sad News in deed.I really feel even more fortunate NOW to have had John as guest for 3 days at Traditional Archery Rendevous in the 90's and spent time chatting with him & Lenny as well as watching his demonstrations.A very special human being.
God Bless you John.
Super nice guy. He will be greatly missed in our community. My condolences to his family.
Danny
May God Bless his family & friends.
My prayers are with his family. May he rest in peace. He was quite an inspiration. (nut) :pray:
A stolen moment of John on right and Lenny at his side as he most often was, in the lobby at PBS Nashville in 2010.
(http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo306/bhaukom/2010PBS015-1.jpg)
So sad to hear....Thoughts and Prayers go out to his Family... God Bless all of them.
Many thanks to all for sharing. Prayers sent to John's family and many friends.
may he rest in peace, my prayers go out to all his loved ones and friends
John was an inspiration to all. May he rest in peace. God bless his family and many friends.
So Sad to hear, May he rest in Peace and God Bless his family. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Rook at the comptons, I remember his big beautiful smile.
I had the pleasure and opportunity to talk with John Rook when he was our guest speaker at our Traditional Bowhunters Of Maryland Annual Banquet some years ago. Matter of fact we sat at the same table, and we kind of hit it off, especially since I could relate to his blindness, because my Dad was blind. The Bowhunting community have certainly lost a great one. At one point in time I actually gave up a booked Stingray hunt date that I had with Rob Davis, so that John could go on that particular day to hunt Stingrays. I gladly stepped aside and let him have that day.God Bless his family and may he rest in peace.
Tony
May he Rest In Peace. What an inspiration.
Sad day. My sincere condolences to the family.
I never met John but he had my utmost respect from the first time I read about him several years ago.
Just last week I spoke of him to give encouragement to a life long hunter that had lost his legs and a portion of his hands to a flesh eating disease in recent years.
He remains an inspiration to us all.
Some of the members here have contacted me for more information on the calling hours for John. John was a special person and it's evident that he touched many people's lives.
John David Rook, 73
BOARDMAN – Prayers will be at 9:30 a.m. on Friday at the Fox Funeral Home, Boardman, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick Church, celebrated by the Rev. Edward Noga and the Rev. Paul Tobin, for John David Rook, 73, who passed away Sunday morning. He was born on May 24, 1938, in Youngstown, a son of the late Paul Wilbur and Sara Ross Rook. He leaves to cherish his memory, his loving wife, the former Barbara DePrano Rook; several friends and family; and his friend, Cassy. His sister, Patricia, preceded him in death. Mr. Rook retired as Workman's Compensation Manager for the Youngstown Sheet and Tube Co. John was a noted archer and bowhunter. He was a regular member of the Professional Bowhunters Society, a life member of the Compton Traditional Bowhunter, a senior member of the Pope and Young Club, a life member of the Ohio Bowhunters, a member of the Safari Club International, a life member and vice president of the Lowellville Rod and Gun Club, and the Michigan Longbow Association. Mr. Rook was a honor graduate from Youngstown State University, and was elected to the Gould Society, Youngstown's equivalent to the Phi Beta Kappa. The Professional Bowhunters Society awarded him the Thomas Shapinas Award, their highest award. Also, he was honored with a special award for "not giving up" from the Safari Club International for him and his sighter. It was presented to him by General Norman Schwarzkopf, with Bo Derek present. He gave many demonstrations and lectures throughout the United States. John started his interest in archery in 1956 and won many awards. Friends may call from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Fox Funeral Home, Boardman. Material tributes can be made in John's memory to Lowellville Rod and Gun Club, Land Acquisition Fund, P.O. Box 1, Lowellville, OH 44430.
My condolences to John's family.What he did with archery,gave encouragement to others.
Leland
I met John at the Kalamazoo traditional expo in 2004 (I think) then I spoke to him again at Kalamazoo a couple of other times. He was a friend of the man I bought Lost Nation Archery from so we had a connection immediately. I'll never forget asking for clarification on his last name. "Just remember 'crook' but no 'C'" he said. I laugh just remembering the way he said it. And John remembered me the second time we spoke.
Thank you, God, for the years he blessed all of our lives.
John sure had a knack for remembering people by their voices. I once asked him if he could guess who I was since it had been a year or more since we had been together. He said, "say a few more words" and cocked his head as if listening close. I replied "do you remember my voice"? He said "no never heard that voice before but is Jeanne here"? Jeanne being my wife. John had a great sense of humor.
Every time we met, he would ask how Jeanne and my family was. He always showed concern for others.
I had the honor of meeting John back in the late 1980's. He and Lenny were guest speakers at a South Dakota Bowhunter's gathering. Before the evening was over I was wearing a whipped cream pie compliments of John to his great delight and my chagrine. I was planning a bear hunt that following spring and asked John if he would be interested in going along. He jumped at the opportunity and we made plans to hunt together and I would be his "eyes" for the hunt. We had many great experiences during that long week together. Jack Kempf volunteered to pick John up from the airport and transport him to bear camp. They had never met. While getting to know each other and traveling down the road in the vehicle John shouted " Look look there's a bear!!" Jack hit the brakes to look where John was pointing then realized that he had just been taken by John's great humor! Jack laughed and said "John, you sob." During the week John asked if he could go to the lake and take a bath. Duane and I were going to take bait to a stand across the lake and took John with us so he could bathe. As we loaded the boat and prepared to leave I asked John is he was sure that he would be OK by himself. He said he would be as long as we put his fresh clothes all together on the shore and made sure that he had his soap and walking stick close by. As we left in the boat we could see John undressing and getting into the water to clean up. We crossed the lake, baited the stand and started on our return trip back across the lake. As we approached the shore where we had left John we could see him standing stark naked with his walking stick close to the front of him as he leaned on it. I was laughing as we got closer. So was John. As it turned out he was in the process of soaping up when he heard a car driving up. It turned out to be a family who had planned on swimming but left very fast when they saw a naked man bathing just off the beach. John was so flustered by the turn of events that he lost his way back to his clothes and towel and stood there waiting for us to return so he could towel off and get dressed. We all had a good laugh at John's misfortune. John shot a good bear on this hunt. I will always remember his dignity, humor and ability to make the best of anything thrown his way. He was a true gentleman.
I am at a loss for words. John was one of the finest men I ever knew. He was a great ambassador for our sport and an equally good co-pilot on our Texas trip. In life you only get to meet a couple folks like him. Cindy and I were blessed to be freinds with John.
Keep a seat for us around that campfire John...we'll catch up to again brother.
Our condolences.
I didnt know John but my prayers are with his family and friends, may they find peace with the memories
Sorry to hear this. Prayers of peace and love winging their way to the Great Spirit.
Had the privilige to meet and shoot with John, years ago. Another great person gone. The world of Trad Archery is better for his walking our path.
JAG/Johnny
I had the oprotunity to meet John at the UBI banquet and at Compton I but did not know him well as many of you did.
I will have to say this thread is a great memorial to the man.
It would be nice to see someone put a story of Johns life together with contributions from all his friends. There are probably more stories that have not been told
I talked to John many times at ETAR. I had the privilege to be his sighter at a western Mass shoot one time. He was a much better shot than I being his eyes! What a gentle-man with a great sense for kidding around. RIP John.
Sorry to hear this, did not know he was blind. After reading about him went on line and read about his life, also read it to my wife. She use to shoot archery, until going blind. After I read the stories to her she ask me when do we start. So we are. I guess his legacy will live on as long as folks try.
Oh wow...just saw this. How sad. I didn't know John, but I was very inspired by the stories I read of his efforts. God Bless....
More than man. Not many are cut from the same cloth. Never giving up, and he never stopped giving. A true inspiration to every bowhunter. He will be missed. May God rest his soul.
John was a real bowhunter. We hunted together a couple of different times in TX and saw him all over the country at shows.
He killed more deer in a year than most guys will kill in several seasons even being blind.
Mike
Indeed a sad day in the archery fraternity. John was one of the good guys. The Old Guard is really leaving us. I was fortunate to grow up around John, and I can remember him with one eye and a patch years ago, before the full loss of his vision. When he lost the second eye Jim Emerson kept him shooting and helped develop his sighting system. As many said, John sure had a sense of humor, he was a philosopher, and I think one would have to be to keep positive through the long, slow loss of vision that he knew eventually would make him totally blind. He would eat by the clock system on the plate - meat at 6-oclock, potatoes at 9-oclock etc. Jim Emerson used to reach across the table and turn John's plate 90 degrees, changing all the positions, John would go right along and never bat an eye. John sure was an ambassador for bowhunting and touched so many people over the years. He was my true one and only "bowhunting hero", though he would laugh at that, and I was fortunate enough to have John sponsor me for regular membership in the PBS. He was a true role model in so much he did both in and for bowhunting. John, we'll miss ya, buddy.
Ryan
This is very sad news. There's no one I admired and respected more than John. I got a chance to hunt with him once at a mutual friends place. He killed 2 whitetail does that week. It was a real thrill to share a hunt with him. We did a bow swap a few years ago. The bow he made for me is one of my most prized possessions. I wouldn't trade it for anything. He was one of the best. Rest in peace my friend. Jim Reynolds.
Met him at Cloverdale 2003....had a real nice visit with him. Wish I could have been around him more.
God Speed...... :campfire:
John was a scholar and a real gentleman.
Passionate about bowhunting and a great friend.
He will be missed dearly.
Always looked forward to talking with John at the PBS banquets,attually it was the highlite of the trip for me.What a great bowhuntig ambassador.John was #1 in my book.
John rook was the only guy i know who could score a rack by running his hands over it . I saw him him do a few times at denton hill
(http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r267/bowmofo/1-4-07021.jpg) I loved the way John and Lenny would tell their stories . made you feel like you were there!
(http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r267/bowmofo/1-4-07020.jpg)
Prayers sent to his family. :pray:
Oh wow. I am so sorry to hear that. I saw him a couple of times at different events and could not have been more impressed with him. Archery has lost a legend.
Mike
Sounds like one heck of a good guy in addition to being an archery inspiration! Condolensces for his family and friends.
Rest easy old timer. Godbless. TD.