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Don J. Brooks

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Service Information

Don Brooks, age 61, of Fairfax passed away Tuesday, August 2, 2022, at the New Ulm Medical Center in New Ulm.

Funeral Service will be Saturday, August 6, 2022, 1:00 P.M. at the Redwood Alliance Church, 231 E. 2nd St., Redwood Falls, Minnesota, with interment in Ft. Ridgely Cemetery, Ridgely Township, Nicollet County, Minnesota.

Visitation will be Friday, August 5, 2022, from 4:00 P.M.-8:00 P.M. at the Hauser-Hantge Funeral Chapel in Fairfax and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.

Visitation/Gathering
Hauser-Hantge Chapel
601 South Park Street
Fairfax, MN
Website:hantge.com
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Service
Redwood Alliance Church
231 East Second Street
Redwood Falls, MN
Redwood
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Funeral Chapel
Hauser-Hantge Funeral Chapel
601 South Park Street
Fairfax, MN 55332
Phone:(507) 426-7274
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Cemetery
Ft. Ridgely Cemetery (Ridgely Twp)
Ridgely Township, rural Fairfax
Fairfax, MN
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Obituary

Don Jay Brooks was born on October 19, 1960, in Sparta, Wisconsin, to Grayson and Phyllis (Jotham) Brooks and was raised on the family dairy farm. 

Don accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at age 15 and was baptized in Jersey Valley Lake in Wisconsin. Don’s faith was the most important thing in his life.

He attended school in Sparta and graduated in 1979. He worked at Schreier Implement in Norwalk, Wisconsin, and Jackson Chevrolet in Sparta, Wisconsin, before moving to Minnesota. He then worked at Hurney’s Red Owl in Fairfax, AUI/Norwood Promotional Products/BIC in Sleepy Eye and 3M in New Ulm.

On July 5, 1986, Don was united in marriage to Nancy Schroeder at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Fairfax, Minnesota. Don and Nancy met at the Ellsworth Polka Festival in 1983 when they were introduced to each other by a mutual friend. They loved dancing together and went to dances as often as they could. The couple shared 36 years of marriage together and their union was blessed with two children, Glen and Neil.

Don was blessed with the ability to build or repair just about anything. That ability helped him in all of his jobs. He worked hard to keep everything working well in the house and the vehicles running properly. While working at Schreier Implement, a co-worker introduced Don to building and flying remote control airplanes. He thoroughly enjoyed his hobby and was very good at it.  Throughout the years, Don built close to 200 planes. He was a member of Wingnut RC Flyers. He always enjoyed the time he was able to spend at the flying field with his friends.

Don had many more interests. He loved to go hunting with his sons and brothers, especially deer and raccoon hunting. He also liked old tractors, especially John Deere, and going to threshing bees and tractor pulls. He also totally restored a John Deere lawn tractor. 

Don loved spending time with his family and his grandchildren could always put a smile on his face.

Don is survived by his:
wife, Nancy;
children and their families, Glen and Jenny and their children, Grady, Makenzie and Jacquelyn, and
Neil and Sarah and their children, Nichole (fiancée, Casey and baby due in February 2023), Addison and Trevor;
siblings, George (Joy) Brooks, Dale (Carol) Brooks, Marvin (Charlotte) Brooks, Dewey Brooks, Colleen (LaVerne) Dunnum, Merle Brooks, Arlan (Barb) Brooks;
many nieces and nephews.   

Don was preceded in death by his parents, father-in-law and mother-in-law, Alfred “Sarge” and Elda Schroeder, brother-in-law, Arlen Schomburg, sister-in-law, Linda Schroeder, and many aunts and uncles. 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Stefanie (Black) Janike says

    August 3, 2022 at 6:54 pm

    My deepest sympathies to the whole family. I remember going to school with Neil at St Johns and Don was always very kind. So sorry for your loss.

    Reply
  2. Larry DeBoer says

    August 3, 2022 at 11:03 pm

    I and many others in the model airplane hobby will sorely miss Don. He has always been a great friend. I have called on Don many times for advice with various hobby issues. I have always admired his ability to figure out anything mechanical. We have lost a great friend. My condolences to his wife and family.

    Reply
  3. Denise Johnson says

    August 4, 2022 at 12:48 pm

    I am so very sorry for your loss, Nancy!

    Reply
  4. Vince LaPorte says

    August 4, 2022 at 2:48 pm

    I traveled with Don to the Joe Nall Fun Fly in South Carolina. What a considerate gentleman.
    Don was full of fun and very knowledgeable regarding full size aircraft of all types but especially warbirds.
    I gave Don a model Spitfire that was too hot for me to handle and he flew it gracefully.
    I will miss him.
    Vince

    Reply
  5. Rita Williams and Shirley Williams says

    August 5, 2022 at 11:58 am

    My sympathy to the family. We knew Donnie when he was very young. Went to the same church in Norwalk, WI. We are sorry for your loss. You will have many good memories.

    Reply
  6. Bryan Sellner says

    August 5, 2022 at 12:15 pm

    I had the pleasure to see Don’s love of mechanics first hand working side by side at AUI/BIC and again at 3M. Don was very devoted to anything he put is mind to. I will miss our talks about our history together building and restoring machines.

    On a side note: My first introduction to Don was in 1992 as I was passing through Fairfax to purchase some speakers for my college apartment. I still have those speakers in my garage and will always think of him and his passion for music when they are used.

    Sorry for your loss. Don will be missed.

    Reply
  7. Janet A Lokensgard says

    August 6, 2022 at 3:55 pm

    We are so sorry tonhear about Don’s passing. To know that he loved the Lord and with Him today is a peace we all.need to hold onto to. Knowing that if we trust in the Lord too, we will see our brother there someday. Hugs tonthe family! Bruce and Janet Lokensgard

    Reply
  8. Janet A Lokensgard says

    August 6, 2022 at 3:56 pm

    We are so sorry to hear about Don’s passing. To know that he loved the Lord and is with Him today is a peace we all need to hold onto to. Knowing that if we trust in the Lord too, we will see our brother there someday. Hugs to the family! Bruce and Janet Lokensgard

    Reply

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