Owen Henry Brooks was born Feb. 26, 1930, at Fairview, the son of John Franklin and Lydia Elizabeth (Hufford) Brooks.  He grew up and attended schools at Fairview. 

He began work on the family farm in Missouri before moving to the Quinter, Kan., area.
He moved to Centropolis, Kan., in 1955. Owen worked over 30 years in the maintenance department at the University of Kansas in Lawrence.

Owen was united in marriage to Fern Leota Barton on Sept. 16, 1955, in Centropolis, Kansas.  They were privileged to share 52 years together and blessed with five children.

He was baptized on July 27, 1961, becoming a member of the Old German Baptist Brethren Church, to which he remained faithful till death. 

Following open heart surgery in May 2005, and experiencing declining health, he called for and received the annointing on May 12, 2007, from which he received much comfort.  He patiently bore his affliction while being lovingly cared for by his companion. He peacefully departed this life at home in the early morning hours of July 8, 2008, at the age of 78 years, 4 months, and 12 days.

Owen is survived by his wife; five children, Beverly Crist and her husband, Wendel, Dan and his wife, Chris, Doug and his wife, Virginia, Brad and his wife, Cindy, and Sue Williamson and her husband, Gary; 13 grandchildren; one great-grandson;  two sisters, Rosie Smith and her husband, Dale, and Dorothy Skiles and her husband, Joe; seven brothers and sisters-in-law, Virgil Frantz and his wife, Karen, Harriet Oyler and her husband, Lloyd, Arthur Hopkins, Oella Edgecomb, Merlin Barton and his wife, Eva, Harold Riffey and his wife, Bonnie, and Nina Flora and her husband, Chet; and many nieces and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Howard; 11 brothers and sisters-in-law, Carol Embry, Robert Tansey, Nellie Frantz, Chester Barton, Doris Hopkins, Paul Edgecomb, Melvin Barton and his wife, Ruth Olive, Raymond Kinsley and his wife, June, and Martha Riffey; and two nephews.

We are left with many precious memories and will miss his kind and quiet ways.

Funeral services were at 10 a.m. Friday, July 11, 2008, at the Old German Baptist Brethren Church, Centropolis, Kan.  Interment followed at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Centropolis, Kan.