- Francis N. Brooks "Frank," Kaukauna, 89, died Tuesday July 11, 2006, at Ch erry Meadows. Frank was born on June 5, 1917, in Town of Woodville, s on of Adrian and Wilhelmina (Josephs) Brooks. He married Alice Thomps on on March 3, 1945. They were married for 21 years when she preceded h im in death on February 26, 1966. He married Irene (Lamers) Elrick on Ju ne 10, 1972, and they shared 25 years together until her death on Decemb er 2, 1997. Frank was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Kaukauna, a nd also a member of The American Legion Post 258 in Little Chute. Frank w as drafted into the Army Air Corps in 1942 and served in the Aleutian Paci fic Islands conflict in Alaska until his honorable discharge in 1946. He t hen worked in Civil Service from 1946-1951. After that, he moved back to K aukauna with his wife and family and started a long career at Thilmany, wh ere he worked as an electronics technician for 28 years, retiring Octob er 29, 1979. Frank went to St. Francis School in Hollandtown but never fin ished 7th grade. He was a cheesemaker at White Clover Dairy and made Ameri can and Gjetost (goat cheese). He managed a 220-acre farm that today is st ill in the Brooks family. Frank was always learning everything he could, h is thirst for knowledge was great. He took many courses throughout his lif e. At Valparaiso University he took classes in electronics and at Berkele y, CA, courses in radio and circuitry. Other trades that he enjoyed as hob bies include blacksmith, electrical electronics, woodworking, instrumentat ion, stained glass (leaded & foil), industrial maintenance, TV repairs, la pidary, bee keeping, hunting, camping and fishing. He was the 1st one in h is family to drive the new '27 Model T at age 10. He also rode a bicycle a nd motorcycle forward and backwards. While serving in Alaska, Frank enjoy ed the wilderness of the "Last Frontier." He skied Mt. McKinley, fished f or salmon, hunted moose, Dall sheep and other game.
He is survived by two daughters and five sons: Susan (Paul) Datta, Greenvi lle; Ronald (Sally Hess) Brooks, Thomas (Debbie) Brooks of Kaukauna; Dav id (Sally) Brooks, Nancy (Scott) Kraft, Patrick (Cathy) Brooks of Menash a; Kenneth (MaryJo) Brooks, Milwaukee, 12 grandchildren, seven step grandc hildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and 15 step great-grandchildren. He is fu rther survived by Irene's children; Pat Schumacher, Bob (Mary) Elrick, D on (Karen) Elrick, Lynn Elrick, Jeff (Connie) Elrick and their children a nd grandchildren.He was preceded in death by his parents, Adrian and Minnie Brooks, wives A lice and Irene, two brothers: Lawrence (Marcella) Brooks, Leo (Regina) Bro oks, two sisters: Harriet (Ted) Lauer, Helen (Servanus) Schuh, 10 half bro thers, two half sisters, infant daughter Mary, grandson Michael Brooks, da ughter-in-law Shelley (Hueckman) Brooks, son-in-law Richard Kempen, brothe r-in-law Fr. Robert Thompson and other relatives.Frank's Funeral Service will be 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 15, 2006, at S T. MARY of the ANNUNCIATION CATHOLIC CHURCH, 119 West Seventh Street, Kauk auna, with Fr. Jerry Pastors officiating. Friends will be received fr om 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Friday July 14, 2006, at the Boettcher Family Fu neral Home, 2401 Fieldcrest Dr., Kaukauna, and again on Saturday at Chur ch from 10 a.m. until the time of service. Interment will take place at S t. Mary's Cemetery, Kaukauna. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been esta blished to retinitis pigmentosa research fund.The family would like to thank Cherry Meadows and St. Paul Villa for all t heir help and support in taking care of Frank. It is greatly appreciated
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1917 - 2006 (89 years)
Has 24 ancestors and 14 descendants in this family tree.
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Brooks, Susan Ann
