Maurice Thomas Brooks, age 84

On By admin

Maurice Thomas Brooks, age 84


November 16, 1935 – September 4, 2020

Maurice Thomas Brooks, age 84, of Newton, Illinois, passed away at 2:44 AM – Friday, September 4, 2020, at

Villas of Hollybrook in Newton, Illinois.

Funeral services celebrating Maurice’s life will be held at 12:00 PM (Noon) – Monday, September 7, 2020, at
Central Christian Church in Newton, Illinois, with Mike Knepper officiating. Burial will be in the Westlawn
Memorial Park Cemetery in Newton, Illinois, with full military rites by the Jasper Post #20 American Legion.
Visitation will be held 2 hours prior to the service at the church. In loving memory of Maurice, memorials may
be made to the Central Christian Church or St. Thomas School. Arrangements are under the care of Meyer
Funeral Home in Newton, Illinois. The obituary can be viewed and condolences left at www.meyerfh.com.
Maurice was born on November 16, 1935, in Torrington, Wyoming, the son of Owen and Ada (Thomas)
Brooks. He graduated from Newton Community High School with the Class of 1953. Maurice proudly served
his country in the United States Army from 1955 till 1957, as a medic. He married Janet Guerrettaz on August

1, 1959, at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Newton, Illinois.

Maurice was a lifelong livestock and grain farmer in Jasper County. He was a member of the Central Christian

Church in Newton, Illinois; Jasper Post #20 American Legion and

the Post #7537 Harvey A. Pulliam Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Jasper County Farm Bureau.
Maurice enjoyed fishing and spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren.

Maurice is survived by:

Wife of 61 years Janet Brooks of Newton, Illinois

3 Children – Patti and husband Ron Ochs of Newton, Illinois; Tony and wife Geri Brooks of Newton, Illinois

and Julie Bierman (Ed Shamhart) of Olney, Illinois

4 Grandchildren – Lindsey (Jason) Hermann of Newton, Illinois; Ryan Ochs of Des Plains, Illinois; Marcus

(Buffy) Brooks of Newton, Illinois and Kelsey (Ryan) Taylor of Indianapolis, Indiana
6 Great Grandchildren – Allie, Brooks and Blake Hermann; Emma Brooks; Ada and Elise Taylor

1 Sister – Kay White of Hendersonville, Tennessee

2 Brothers – Bob Brooks of Newton, Illinois and Ralph (Roseanne) Brooks of Tuscola, Illinois

Several nieces and nephews also survive

Maurice was preceded in death by his parents, sister Ruth Gorman and sister-in-law Anita Brooks.