A. Gus Broockerd

Gus was born January 31, 1929 to Gustaaf and Mary (Soetaert) Broockerd of Overland Park, Kansas. He was the youngest of their four boys. He and his brothers were loyal to each other, worked hard, always lent a hand, and knew how to have a good time.

Gus married the love of his life in 1949, Gertie Hiatt. They were married 55 years before her death in 2005. They were partners in raising their family and building a home. The family survived the 1957 Ruskin Heights tornado but their house did not. He built their second and last home on Blue Ridge in Martin City after the tornado, living on the property as he built the house in his spare time.

In 1964, he became a charter member of St. Thomas More and was a lifelong member of the parish. He was active in More Friends. Faith was always an important aspect of his life. Gus traveled with the parish on a mission trip to Guatemala and it was a meaningful experience for him. He was a Fourth Degree in the Knights of Columbus, St. Thomas More Council. Gus was very proud of the work the Knights of Columbus did for the community.

Gus worked from the time he was twelve in a variety of jobs. He ran a wheat combine, changed tires at Western Auto, worked at a dairy farm, helped run a plant nursery, and at 18 started shoveling coal at Badger Lumber and Coal Co., working his way up to yard manager. He was a self-made man and eventually had his own business, Broockerd Construction, as a residential general contractor. But he was more than a contractor and had the skill and knowledge to be the architect, the plumber, the electrician, the carpenter, and whatever else was needed.

Family was important to Gus and he loved being with his family. His children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren have special memories of spending time with him. There are many memories of family time on the patio, basketball games in the driveway, the merry-go-round in the backyard, and many happy holidays. Countless summer weekends were spent at their cabin at The Lake of the Ozarks swimming, fishing, skiing, tubing, playing games, and having good conversation. He had a sparkle in his eye and a smile on his face every time he interacted with his family.

Friendships were also important to Gus. He had many lifelong friends from different facets of his life and made friends easily because of his kind, good humored nature. He was a gentleman to all and always willing to help out.

He was a detailed person and made meticulous notes and lists. He even made a list of all the cars and trucks he owned throughout the years, listing the year, make, model, and color.

Gus was a good listener and a great storyteller. Just days before his death, he entertained family with stories of his boyhood, his work, and escapades with family and friends. His memory was amazing and he could always remember details many of the family members did not recall. He constantly worked crossword puzzles and loved going to the casinos with Gertie or his brother Aug. Rumor has it that he and Aug would take their scooters to the casino and race down the hallways. When he moved to Villa Ventura and later to John Knox Village, he became the king of jigsaw puzzles. He was known to be able to do a 500 piece puzzle in a day and completed one the Saturday before he died with his daughter, Jackie.

Gus is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Henry, James, and August, and his wife Gertie. He is survived by his four children: Steve Broockerd of Gravois Mills, Terry (Cathy) Broockerd of Kansas City, Jackie (Patrick) Cahill of Lee’s Summit, and Tim Broockerd of Lee’s Summit. He is survived by ten grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren: Kristina (Shane Hibdon) Broockerd - Shaylee and Delano; Derek (Susan) Broockerd - Austin, Autumn, Aubreigh, and Andruw; Adam (Chelsea) Broockerd - Bradley; Todd (Chelsea) Broockerd - Sydney; Randy (Chrissy) Broockerd - Max, Camille, and Vincent; Jeremy Cahill; Sean (Jason) Cahill; Bryce (Logan) Cahill - Lilly and Dahlia; Hannah Broockerd; Sophie Broockerd; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Services will be on Friday, June 7 at St. Thomas More, 11822 Holmes, Kansas City, MO. The visitation is at 9:30am, Eulogy at 10:45am, and Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00am, followed by burial at Mt. Moriah Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to St. Thomas More, Seton Center, or Knights of Columbus Charitable Fund.