Gerald J. “Jerry” Brooks, 82, of Peoria Heights, passed away at 6:55 a.m. on Thursday, December 31, 2009, at Heartland of Peoria.
He was born on December 1, 1927 in Peoria, a son of Harry and Mary (Hall) Brooks. He married Marjorie D. Brickey at St. Mark Catholic Church in Peoria on September 11, 1948. She survives.
Jerry is also survived by his children, Randy Brooks of Knoxville, TN, Ronald (Barbara) Brooks of Peoria, AZ, Kathy (Charles) McCarty of East Peoria and Patricia (Robert) Keenan of East Peoria; sister, Joanne Grafton of Peoria; eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Sandra Hebert; and sister, Mary Margaret Scott.
Jerry attended Manual High School in Peoria and was a parishioner of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Peoria Heights.
He was a World War II U.S. Army veteran, serving with the 188th Parachute Infantry in Sendai, Japan. He was honorably discharged on May 13, 1947 from Camp Stoneman, CA. He was very proud of the time he spent serving his country and was a member of the Peoria Heights VFW Post #2602. Hospice presented him with a plaque in honor of his service to our country.
Jerry was a brick mason for Local #3 (now known as Local #6), for fifty years, retiring in 1986. Bricklaying gave him his greatest enjoyment in life and he loved teaching his family how to lay brick.
He enjoyed camping; traveling, especially to Branson, MO; building and fixing things; listening to Country and Big Band music, especially Lawrence Welk; collecting model antique cars and trains; and watching the Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bears.
He was a great historian and enjoyed watching The History Channel. Jerry will be remembered as a fun-loving gentleman who loved to talk and joke with others.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Monday, January 4, 2009, at Clary Funeral Home, 428 West McClure Avenue, in Peoria, with Fr. Thomas E. Taylor officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the funeral home. Interment will be in Swan Lake Memory Gardens in Peoria, with Military Honors provided by the U.S. Army.
Memorial contributions may be made in Jerry’s memory to the American Cancer Society’s Road to Recovery in Peoria.
| Bonnie Carter Dumerauf |
great pictures |
February 25, 2010 |
Such wonderful pictures of Jerry. I especially liked the ones when they were young. The one on the farm with Shep(sweet dog) in the forfront brought back many thoughts of the past and #24 was so neat as it showed Marvs'image in the mirror. That must have been when Marge and Jerry came to see mom(Marges'sister.) God Bless . Bonnie
| Jan Thomas Craps |
Mrs. |
January 5, 2010 |
I just want to offer my sympathy to "Jolly" Jerry's family. He was such a nice man.
I enjoyed the pictures on the memorial site and they truly show how much fun Jerry and his family have had together over the years.
| b stimeling |
mrs |
January 3, 2010 |
Even though I can't be there to offer my condolences, I want you all to know that my thoughts, prayers and heart are there with you all in this very sad time! I will miss pauzey a lot he was a great man in my eyes and i'm sure many others lives too.
| Al Harkrader |
Mr. |
January 3, 2010 |
I am sorry for your loss, also sorry that I never met Jerry while I also served in the 11th Airborne at Sendai with the 127th Engineers in 1946-47. May our airborne brother rest in peace.
