Obituaries
2
trees
planted in memory of Herman Eddie Brooks
Obituary for Herman Eddie Brooks
Peoria- Herman Eddie Brooks, 90, of Peoria, passed away on May 13, 2022 in Mesquite, Nevada, at Mesa Valley Estates Assisted Living and Memory Care with his beloved wife, Shirley, by his side.
Born on March 7, 1932 to Elwood and Vivian Brooks, he was the fifth of seven children. Herman married Shirley Reddy at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Peoria on September 3, 1955. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers George, Wayne, Donald, and Richard; and sister Katherine Lawson.
Herman is survived by his wife Shirley; sister Della Johnson; six children: Mary (Jerry) Motteler, Eddie Brooks, Patrick (Vicki) Brooks, Michael (Jody) Brooks, Mark Brooks, and Ann (Jim) Anderson; 11 grandchildren: Clifford, Molly, Hannah, Emily, Brooke, Taylor, Nicholas, Michael, Sarah, Catherine, and Jason; five great-granddaughters: Caroline, Tinley, Lily, Vivian, and Hailey; as well as several nieces and nephews.
Herman was raised in Valley City, Illinois and graduated from Griggsville High School in 1950. Upon graduating, he enlisted in the US Airforce. After his honorable discharge in 1954, he moved to Peoria and worked at Caterpillar. In 1958 he left Caterpillar to become a City of Peoria Firefighter. Herman rose through the ranks becoming Fire Chief in 1985 and retired from the fire department in 1987. During his career as a fireman, he joined the Illinois National Guard where he served as a reservist from 1959 to 1983 retiring as a Master Sergeant.
While on the fire department and working various second jobs, Herman was a dedicated father who always made it a point to attend and even coach his children’s extracurricular activities He had a passion for volunteering and spent his time in volved in the St. Philomena and Academy of our Lady Spalding Institute Athletic Boosters. In his retirement, he was a founding member of The Illinois Association of Retired Firefighters. Nothing made Herman happier than family gatherings and time spent with his children and grandchildren, whom he lovingly referred to his granddaughters as “sweetheart” and his grandsons as “Bud”.
He was a lifelong sports fan, always cheering for the Chicago Bears, St. Louis Cardinals, and the University of Notre Dame Football. In his later years, Herman and Shirley spent the winters in Mesquite, Nevada where they enjoyed being close to the Las Vegas NASCAR races, casinos, and warm weather. Herman will be dearly missed by family and friends alike.
The Brooks family would like to thank the staff at Mesa Valley Estates, especially the memory care unit.
Visitation will be held on Monday, May 23, 2022 between the hours of 4:00 pm and 7:00 PM at Wright & Salmon Mortuary. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 at 10:30 AM at St. Philomena Catholic Church with an additional visitation being held one hour prior to mass. Father David Richardson will officiate, and entombment with military honors will follow in Resurrection Mausoleum.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Herman’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Friends and family may sign the online guestbook by logging onto www.wrightandsalmon.com.
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Born on March 7, 1932 to Elwood and Vivian Brooks, he was the fifth of seven children. Herman married Shirley Reddy at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Peoria on September 3, 1955. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers George, Wayne, Donald, and Richard; and sister Katherine Lawson.
Herman is survived by his wife Shirley; sister Della Johnson; six children: Mary (Jerry) Motteler, Eddie Brooks, Patrick (Vicki) Brooks, Michael (Jody) Brooks, Mark Brooks, and Ann (Jim) Anderson; 11 grandchildren: Clifford, Molly, Hannah, Emily, Brooke, Taylor, Nicholas, Michael, Sarah, Catherine, and Jason; five great-granddaughters: Caroline, Tinley, Lily, Vivian, and Hailey; as well as several nieces and nephews.
Herman was raised in Valley City, Illinois and graduated from Griggsville High School in 1950. Upon graduating, he enlisted in the US Airforce. After his honorable discharge in 1954, he moved to Peoria and worked at Caterpillar. In 1958 he left Caterpillar to become a City of Peoria Firefighter. Herman rose through the ranks becoming Fire Chief in 1985 and retired from the fire department in 1987. During his career as a fireman, he joined the Illinois National Guard where he served as a reservist from 1959 to 1983 retiring as a Master Sergeant.
While on the fire department and working various second jobs, Herman was a dedicated father who always made it a point to attend and even coach his children’s extracurricular activities He had a passion for volunteering and spent his time in volved in the St. Philomena and Academy of our Lady Spalding Institute Athletic Boosters. In his retirement, he was a founding member of The Illinois Association of Retired Firefighters. Nothing made Herman happier than family gatherings and time spent with his children and grandchildren, whom he lovingly referred to his granddaughters as “sweetheart” and his grandsons as “Bud”.
He was a lifelong sports fan, always cheering for the Chicago Bears, St. Louis Cardinals, and the University of Notre Dame Football. In his later years, Herman and Shirley spent the winters in Mesquite, Nevada where they enjoyed being close to the Las Vegas NASCAR races, casinos, and warm weather. Herman will be dearly missed by family and friends alike.
The Brooks family would like to thank the staff at Mesa Valley Estates, especially the memory care unit.
Visitation will be held on Monday, May 23, 2022 between the hours of 4:00 pm and 7:00 PM at Wright & Salmon Mortuary. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 at 10:30 AM at St. Philomena Catholic Church with an additional visitation being held one hour prior to mass. Father David Richardson will officiate, and entombment with military honors will follow in Resurrection Mausoleum.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Herman’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Friends and family may sign the online guestbook by logging onto www.wrightandsalmon.com.
Previous Events
Visitation
Monday
23
May
4:00 PM
- 7:00 PM
Wright & Salmon Mortuary
2416 N North St
Peoria, IL 61604
Visitation
Tuesday
24
May
9:30 AM
- 10:30 AM
St. Philomena Catholic Church
1000 W. Albany Ave
Peoria, IL 61604
Funeral Mass
Tuesday
24
May
10:30 AM
St. Philomena Catholic Church
1000 W. Albany Ave
Peoria, IL 61604
Cemetery Details
Location
Resurrection Cemetery & Mausoleum
7519 N Allen Rd
Peoria, IL 61614
Memorial Contribution
Alzheimer's Association
St. Jude Midwest Affiliate
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