Robert BROOKS

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BROOKS, Robert Earl – Saturday, July 21, 2012 marked a very sad day for the Brooks family. Earl, a wonderful husband, father and grandfather, passed away very peacefully at the Hamiota District Health Centre, at the age of 67, with his family all by his side. Earl was born in Hamiota on December 10, 1944 to Franklin and Catherine Brooks, and was the eldest of four children. He was a happy go lucky little boy who attended his school years in Hamiota, participating in various school activities along with playing baseball and hockey. As a young man, at 16 years of age, Earl left his family and the farm, and joined the Royal Canadian Navy. He entertained many with his stories from his basic training in Cornwallis, NS and the three years he was stationed in Esquimalt, BC where he worked in Communications. He left the Navy in 1965 and returned to Winnipeg and took an Electrical Construction course. To be able to fulfill his dream of farming with his Dad, Earl returned to Hamiota, worked for Gregory Sand and Gravel, and purchased some land. He then worked at the Credit Union until 1974, when he made the decision to farm full time. Many years later, Earl and his brother Dale assembled farm equipment for dealerships at a shop west of Hamiota, and a few years after that he made the decision to rent out his farm land and go trucking. Earl purchased a Western Star which was his pride and joy and he mostly hauled grain across the Prairie Provinces for Knight Seeds. Earl loved trucking, along with his farm, but he was forced to retire early from both, due to health reasons. He was diagnosed with Inclusion Body Myositis, an inflammatory muscle disease, but he continued to strive forward and enjoy life. This disease was then coupled with a long struggle with both bladder and kidney cancer. Earl’s courageous spirit, optimism and strength to fight were very evident up until the very end of his battle. He was always heard saying “It could always be worse”. Earl married Lorraine Bates in 1972, and they raised two children, Herb and Kim. He enjoyed life to its fullest, but especially loved time spent with his family. Earl enjoyed playing ball with the Oakner Outlaws, golfing, snowmobiling, and club curling. As well he thoroughly enjoyed Forrester curling, and he was a member of the Legion for many years. Earl also served on the Hamiota/Vanguard Credit Union Board for 25 years. As well, he was actively involved in his children’s activities by coaching hockey, ringette and baseball, and being an active fan and always the cheerleader. His wonderful smile and great sense of humour and wit, won him many friends, as he had the gift of being able to talk to, and get the attention of everyone, from small children to the elderly. Earl and Lorraine had many great trips together, travelling to the East Coast, West Coast and a couple of trips down to Texas. They also journeyed to the Turks and Caicos Islands, and had a fun trip to Acapulco with friends, as well as a family vacation to Disneyland. He enjoyed every moment and knew how to have fun. In his later years, the snow couldn’t disappear fast enough for Earl to get back up to their cottage and the lake. He could always be found patrolling the back lane on his scooter and supervising any work bees that were happening at the time. At the lake he loved taking in the nature, keeping his bird feeders full, watching the beautiful sunsets from his chair by the window, the campfires, and the occasional adult beverage. Earl leaves to mourn, his wife of forty years, Lorraine, his son Herb and daughter Kim. He has three grandsons, Dawson, Colt, Connor and granddaughter Trinity – all being the apple of Papa’s eye. Also his sisters Sheila (Mel) Harper of Hanna, AB, Audrey Brooks of Halifax, NS, and brother Dale (Jackie) Brooks of Hamiota, sister-in-law Dorothy Hiltz of Ste. Anne, MB, along with many nieces and nephews. Earl was predeceased by his parents, Franklin and Kay Brooks, Parents-In-Law Frank and Ethel Bates, and brothers-in-law Bob Bates and Allen Hiltz. Farewell my dear, we love you and you will always remain in our hearts.

As published in Brandon Sun on Aug 04, 2012