Date of death: 10/15/19
Saint Meinrad Class: O 1965
With faith in the Resurrection of Jesus, we offer our prayers for Reverend Charles R. Brooks who entered eternal life on Tuesday, October 15, 2019, at the age of 82.
Father Brooks was born in the Town of Holland, Wisconsin, to Henry and Mary (Brochtrup) Brooks. He was the thirteenth of sixteen children in the family. He attended Saint Nazianz Seminary, St. Nazianz, and junior college at Sacred Heart Seminary, Oneida. He studied Philosophy and Theology at St. Meinrad Seminary, Indiana. Most Reverend Stanislaus V. Bona ordained him to the priesthood on May 29, 1965, at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Green Bay.
Father Charlie’s first appointment was as Assistant Pastor of St. John Nepomucene Parish, Little Chute. This was followed by an appointment as Chaplain of Holy Family Memorial Medical Center, Manitowoc. In 1966, he was appointed Assistant Pastor of St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish, Neenah. From 1972 to 1976, he again served as a Chaplain, this time at St. Elizabeth Hospital, Appleton. In 1976, while he was assigned as Pastor of St. Patrick Parish, Lebanon, he continued to serve as a Chaplain at St. Joseph Residence, New London, and Theda Clark Medical Center, Neenah. In 1985, he was appointed Pastor of St. Boniface Parish, De Pere, and in 1993 as Temporary Administrator of St. Joseph Parish, De Pere. His final appointment as Pastor was in 1995 of St. Edward Parish, Mackville. Father Brooks retired in 2007.
He is survived by his siblings; Janet (Jacob) Huber, Kewaunee, Betty (Marv) Rademacher, Wrightstown, Roger “Duke” (Alice) Brooks, Kaukauna, sister-in-law Judie Brooks, Combined Locks, his goddaughter Debbie Meyer, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, as well as his siblings; John “Wilmer” (Helen) Brooks, Mary (Paul) Skell, Joe (Betty) Brooks, Adrian Brooks, Rose Ann (Fred) Ponschock, Sister Mary Henry Brooks, Richard Brooks, Theresa (John) Kemkes, Virginia “Jeanie” Brooks, Jacob Brooks, Franklin (Janelle) Brooks, Henry L. Brooks, his niece Brenda Marquardt, and nephew Rick Skell.