Joel Dean Brooks

Mr. Joel Joe Dean Brooks, age 86, of Bolivar, Missouri was born on September 25, 1925 in Fairfax, Oklahoma, the son of Lawrence Alfred Brooks and Elsie Zula (Whitney) Brooks. Joel was saved at the early age of 13 years old at Polk, Missouri behind a barn with his mother as a witness and went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Saturday, December 17, 2011 at Parkview Healthcare Facility in Bolivar, Missouri. Joel is survived by his two daughters; Linda Kay Brooks of Cliquot, Missouri, and Tracey Renee (Brooks) Allison and her husband Bryan of Flemington, Missouri, his sister; Shirley Appleby and her husband Richard of Dunnegan, Missouri, two grandchildren; Spencer Scott Allison and Miranda May Allison and his nieces and nephews. Joel and his parents moved back to Polk, Missouri at a young age. Joel grew up and went to school until the eighth grade. He helped his dad work in a shop as a mechanic fixing cars and trucks at Goodson, Missouri. At the age of 18, he then joined the United States Navy, serving from January 1944 to April 1946. While in the Navy he served as a mechanic in the repair unit. He went to Saipan and served there for awhile. Although he never saw any combat, he went thru 12 air raids there. After the bombing of Okinawa, the air raids stopped. When he got out of the military, Joel came home and was part-owner with his father, of a business that owned the Bolivar School buses. Joel also worked for Bill Roberts Chevrolet in Bolivar, Missouri before moving to Parkville, Missouri going to work for A&B Collision Repair Center and owning his own Behr Frame Machine doing car alignment work for over 30 years in Riverside, Missouri. After retirement he moved to Nemo, Missouri on the lake where he spent his time fishing. Joel especially enjoyed fishing with his family and was always looking for that big fish. Joel enjoyed playing the mandolin and guitar. He was a true entertainer and for a short period of time, he was in a musical group. He enjoyed music and was very fond of Willie Nelson. He also had a knack for showing up at his granddaughter's home right when fresh baked cookies came out of the oven. Joel enjoyed taking his grandchildren to car shows around the area. He also enjoyed watching his grandchildren play ball and attending their school activities. A visitation will be held from 10:00-11:00am Thursday morning, December 22, 2011 at the Butler Funeral Home in Bolivar, Missouri. Funeral services will be held at 11:00am on Thursday morning at the Butler Funeral Chapel with Brother Gary Fulbright officiating. Musical selections will be Precious Memories, Daddys Hands, and Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain. A video presentation will be played with In The Garden. Burial will follow at Mt. View Cemetery in Polk, Missouri with Military Honors provided by the VFW Post #5525 of Stockton, Missouri. Pallbearers will be Eddie Ben Gorden, Spencer Allison, Wayne Vest, Denton Roberts, Herb Boyce and Ed Riedesel. Honorary Pallbearers will be Paul Hebbert, Charles Johnson, F.W. Haralson, Russell Cochran, John Robert Smith and Bill Roberts, Jr. Friends and family may sign the guest book or send private condolences at www.butlerfuneralhome.com PDF Printable Version

Joel Dean Brooks

September 25, 1925 - December 17, 2011