Dorothy Brooks

Dorothy E. Brooks, 97, died Thursday, December 30, 2021 under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services at Rennes Health and Rehab Center, Weston.

She was born October 1, 1924 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, daughter of the late Raymond and Helen (Gibble) Dennis. On July 7, 1947 she married Joseph Brooks at St. Thomas Catholic Church, Zanesville, Ohio. He preceded her in death on August 19, 2013.

Dorothy was raised in Manheim, Pennsylvania, the second oldest and last surviving of six children. After high school graduation she worked for several years in the local asbestos factory, saving money for college. At Marietta College, Marietta, Ohio, she met and married Joe. They settled in Zanesville, Joe’s hometown, for the next eleven years when a job change brought them to Stevens Point, Wisconsin. They traveled in two cars, each with three children, stopping to watch airplanes at the O’Hare airport, eventually racing to be the first to cross the Illinois/Wisconsin border!

Dorothy completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at UW-Stevens Point and taught fourth grade for many years at Washington Elementary School.

She was highly proficient at every form of needlework, quilting, knitting, garment sewing and more. Her family treasures the beautiful results of those many talents, daughters and granddaughters learning from her and carrying on those skills.

Dorothy and Joe enjoyed more than twenty years of retirement together before Joe’s death. In that time they moved from Stevens Point to Boulder City, Nevada, then to Waterford, WI where they lived for eight years. She was inspired by HGTV to undertake major remodeling in each of their homes.

Survivors include her children, Patricia (Mike) Gaska, Rothschild, David Brooks, Marathon, Thomas Brooks, Stevens Point, Cynthia (Timothy) Boudreau, LaFarge, Gregory Brooks, Stevens Point, Anthony (Cynthia) Brooks, Waterford, and Martin Brooks, Las Vegas; grandchildren, Kati (Jody) Maier, Ryan (Becky) Gaska, Ivy (Will Webb) Boudreau, Bailey Boudreau, Nathan and Grant Brooks; great-grandchildren, Teagan and Chloe Maier, Haley and Kiley Kuehn; brother-in-law Donald Rohrer; sisters-in-law, Linda Dennis and Elizabeth Barker; many nieces and nephews.

Besides her parents and husband, Dorothy was preceded in death by siblings, Raymond Dennis, Jean Bard, Faye Kulp, Patricia Rohrer and Clair Dennis.

The family extends sincere appreciation to all who have cared for their mother’s needs over the past eight years, including Marshfield Clinic and Hospital, Aspirus Hospice Care, Renaissance Assisted Living and Rennes. They are all staffed by real heroes who provide truly compassionate care.

A private family gathering will be held at a later date. Peterson/Kraemer Funeral home is in charge of arrangements.  Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com