Jack was born in Mishawaka, IN, in 1936 to the late Alvin and Maree Brooks of South Bend, IN. He was a 1954 graduate of Central High School in South Bend, where he played baseball and football. He was a BSA Eagle Scout and was honored with the Order of the Arrow. Mr. Brooks proudly served in the United States Army before earning an engineering degree at what was then known as Tri-State College in Angola, IN. After graduating, he enjoyed a long and accomplished career in avionics engineering, primarily in the defense and commercial aviation industry, retiring from FedEx in 2003.
Jack cherished his life with his wife, Julie Papp Brooks, from South Bend, IN., with whom he shared sixty very happy years of marriage. Jack was a devoted family man, always active in the lives of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He passed on to them a commitment to family, a strong work ethic, and a passion for classic cars.
Jack was preceded in death by his wife Julie and is survived by daughter and son-in-law Jennifer and Phillip Thornton of Collierville, TN; son and daughter-in-law Jeff and Elena Brooks of Austin, TX; son and daughter-in-law Jim and Suzie Brooks of Myrtle Beach, SC; grandchildren Julia, Brooks, Nick, Clark, Abbey, and Zoe; and great-grandchildren Chloe Rose and Collier.
The family will gather to receive friends at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 1, 2024, and the funeral service will follow at 2:00 p.m., at Collierville Funeral Home in Collierville, TN. Interment at Magnolia Cemetery in Collierville, TN. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, TN.
