Gary Brooks

Hastings resident Gary Brooks, 82, passed away Friday, January 5, 2024, at Providence Place Memory Care, Hastings, NE, after a long battle with Dementia/Alzheimer’s Disease. 

Memorial Services will be 11 a.m. Thursday, January 11, at First United Methodist Church in Hastings with Rev. Lance Clay and Rev. Andy Springer officiating. Burial with military rites by Hastings Military Honor Guard will be at Parkview Cemetery in Hastings. Visitation will be 1-7 p.m. with family present 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, January 10, at the funeral home, and one hour before the service at the church. Memorials may be given to the family for a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association of Nebraska. The service will be live-streamed on Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home’s website. To view the service, go to Gary’s obituary and click the play button shown towards the bottom of the page.

Gary was born on February 3, 1941 in Roseland, NE to Gladys (Beck) and Harry Brooks. His family later moved to Juniata, NE where he graduated from Juniata High School in 1958. On October 16, 1965, he married D’Maris Scheideman in Hastings, NE.

Gary served in the US Army reserves and fought in the Vietnam War from 1968 to 1969. He was classified as a Sharpshooter and was awarded the Bronze star for meritorious service. He also served his community as a member of the Hastings Evening Lions Club and Hastings First United Methodist Church.

Most people will remember Gary from his 50+ years he worked at Johnson Cashway Lumber Co. He would always greet you with a smile and knew exactly what you needed for your home improvement projects.

Gary’s family will remember him as a strong and silent leader. He was always helping someone with a project or working on his own home. He was quick to laugh at a joke and to join in playing catch or a game with his sons and grandsons.

His favorite activies were bowling and fishing and attendeding his grandsons’ sporting events and concerts.

Gary was preceded in death by his mom and dad, Gladys and Harry Brooks; wife, D’Maris Brooks; brothers, Gordon Brooks, Gayle Brooks, and Roland Brooks; and sisters, Barbara Rynearson and Darlene Stromer.

SURVIVORS:

Daughter:                                           
    Lori Jurkowski

Sons & Spouse:                                 
    Todd Brooks

    Brent & Erica Brooks

Grandsons:                                         
    Adam Jurkowski

    Nicholas Jurkowski

    Joshua Brooks

    Luke Brooks

Great-Grandson:                                
    AJ Jurkowski

Sister:                                                
    Joyce Bennett

Sister-in-law & Brother-in-law:        
    Geneen and Gerald Zimmerman