William Joseph Brooks 1937-2023. Bill died unexpectedly at his home in Burlington, Kansas on February 16, 2023.

Bill was born on April 12, 1937 in San Jose, California to Hollin and Helen Brooks.

Bill’s death was preceded by his brother Hollin, mother and father, and uncle Lock Martin (Gort in The Day the Earth Stand Still Movie 1951).

His remaining family includes Gary Brooks of Ada, Oklahoma, Sean (Elizabeth) Brooks of San Francisco, Jeanine Brooks (Roger Schmidt) of Sitka, Alaska.

Grandchildren are: Elise Brooks, Maren Brooks, Anja Brooks-Schmidt and Mina Brooks-Schmidt.

Bill grew up in Hollister and worked in his father’s grocery store from 1945 to 1955.

From 1955 to 1960 he attended California State Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Architectural Engineering. He later went to the Illiff School of Theology in Denver, CO, where he received a Masters of Divinity.

Bill worked as a private plumbing consultant for schools and hospitals from 1960 to 1963. From 1963 to 1967 he was construction manager for the city of Cupertino.

In 1967, Bill began working as an Assistant Forest Engineer for the US Forest Service in Eldorado National Forest, moved to Inyo National Forest in Bishop, California in 1972, and then to Fresno, California for a year before becoming a forest engineer in Sitka. Alaska in 1976 and remained in that position until 1981.

Bill always had a story to tell about his forest service jobs. Wilderness work has always been interesting.

From 1991 to 2005, Bill was a project manager for the SouthEast Regional Health Consortium in Sitka, Alaska, where he facilitated multi-million dollar contracts and upgrades for the hospital and community health departments.

His most recent position was in Ada, Oklahoma, where he was project manager for the design and construction of the largest Native American-funded hospital in the United States in 2006 and retired in 2013. This construction project was completed in August 2010 on schedule and within the original budget.

Bill enjoyed singing in the church choir, traveling, engaging in good conversation to connect with people, and participating in many organizations wherever he lived—like Kiwanis and the Lions Club. He made friends easily and always had a meeting or gatherings to attend.

One story he personally witnessed was that his front living room window was shattered by the Pearl Harbor newspaper that was thrown into it and that he knew people who went to the Japanese internment camps in California.

There will be no funeral for Bill but the citizens of Burlington, Kansas had to gather as he is missing. This will take place on Saturday, March 4, 2023 at 10:30 am in the basement of the United Methodist Church in Burlington, Kansas

The post William Brooks | Obituary | The Ada Information appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

William Joseph Brooks 1937-2023. Bill died unexpectedly at his home in Burlington, Kansas on February 16, 2023.
Bill was born on April 12, 1937 in San Jose, California to Hollin and Helen Brooks.
Bill’s death was preceded by his brother Hollin, mother and father, and uncle Lock Martin (Gort in The Day the Earth Stand Still Movie 1951).
His remaining family includes Gary Brooks of Ada, Oklahoma, Sean (Elizabeth) Brooks of San Francisco, Jeanine Brooks (Roger Schmidt) of Sitka, Alaska.
Grandchildren are: Elise Brooks, Maren Brooks, Anja Brooks-Schmidt and Mina Brooks-Schmidt.
Bill grew up in Hollister and worked in his father’s grocery store from 1945 to 1955.
From 1955 to 1960 he attended California State Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Architectural Engineering. He later went to the Illiff School of Theology in Denver, CO, where he received a Masters of Divinity.
Bill worked as a private plumbing consultant for schools and hospitals from 1960 to 1963. From 1963 to 1967 he was construction manager for the city of Cupertino.
In 1967, Bill began working as an Assistant Forest Engineer in Eldorado National Forest for the US Forest Service, moved to Inyo National Forest in Bishop, California in 1972, and then relocated to Fresno, California for a year before becoming a forest engineer in Sitka. Alaska in 1976 and remained in that position until 1981.
Bill always had a story to tell about his forest service jobs. Wilderness work has always been interesting.
From 1991 to 2005, Bill was project manager for the SouthEast Regional Health Consortium in Sitka, Alaska, where he facilitated multi-million dollar contracts and upgrades for the hospital and community health departments.
His most recent position was in Ada, Oklahoma, where he was project manager for the design and construction of the largest Native American-funded hospital in the United States in 2006, retiring in 2013 from the original budget.
Bill enjoyed singing in the church choir, traveling, engaging in good conversation to connect with people, and participating in many organizations wherever he lived—like Kiwanis and the Lions Club. He made friends easily and always had a meeting or gatherings to attend.
Some stories he personally witnessed was that his front living room window was shattered by the newspaper it was throwing about Pearl Harbor and that he knew people who went to the Japanese internment camps in California.

Published by Jones Funeral Home – Burlington on February 22, 2023.

34465541-95D0-45B0-BEEB-B9E0361A315ATo plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

The post William Brooks Obituary (1937 – 2023) appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Kennedy Center’s upcoming recipients include a Cockney chimney sweep, a Woodstock icon, and a singer with friends in low places.

Dick Van Dyke, folk singer Joan Baez and country star Garth Brooks covered The Mary Reporter on Wednesday.

Also honored for the ceremony in May are violinist Midori and choreographer / actress Debbie Allen.

The Kennedy Center Honors normally air in December, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the television ceremony has been postponed to June 6, according to reporters.

Dick Van Dyke is among the youngest recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors.

Dick Van Dyke is among the youngest recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors. (VALERIE MACON /)

“The past year has taught us many things, including the need to be flexible and adaptable,” said Deborah Rutter, president of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. “They say that necessity is the mother of all inventions. The unusual circumstances have inspired us and opened up new opportunities to experience and hopefully understand the art and life’s work of our award winners more deeply. “

Van Dyke becomes one of the Kennedy Center’s oldest recipients at the age of 95.

He started out as a radio DJ in the 1940s and later became a Broadway star who received a Tony Award for “Bye Bye Birdie”.

In the 1960s he starred in “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and in many popular films, notably “Mary Poppins” and “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”.

58-year-old Brooks is one of the greatest recording artists in the country. His 1990 album “No Fences” sold a staggering 17 million copies and produced the classic “Friends in Low Places”.

Dustin Diamond aka Screech, who was saved by the Bell, was hospitalized

80-year-old Baez, also a well-known activist, performed on the first night of the 1969 Woodstock Festival.

Midori, the 49-year-old Japanese-born musician, made her debut with the New York Philharmonic when she was 11; and Allen, 70, starred in the 1980s series “Fame” and has coached numerous dancers, including Paula Abdul.

The post Dick Van Dyke, Garth Brooks, Joan Baez amongst new Kennedy Heart Honors recipients appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.