Robert Allen Brooks

Bob attended private school from elementary through high school, and was taught by his mother in a two-room schoolhouse in Gladstone from fifth through eighth grades. He attended Columbia Union Academy for his freshman year of high school and Portland Union Academy for his sophomore and junior years. Under the requirements in effect at the time, Bob was able to begin college a year early, completing an associate degree from Clackamas Community College, followed by a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Lewis & Clark College.

Bob met and became engaged to his wife, Sharon (Kettner) in November of 1972. They were married in Portland, Oregon on June 3, 1973. Bob and Sharon had two daughters, Michelle and Mindy.

Bob was raised in Happy Valley in a house built by his father, on the same street his grandparents and two sets of aunts and uncles (and numerous cousins) lived. This is where he would later return to live and raise his family, also serving on the Happy Valley City Council. About ten years ago, he and Sharon moved to a log home in the country, north of Camas, Washington.

Bob began his life-long career in sales by working for the Adventist Book Center for almost a decade. In the early 1980s, he started his own business selling health, life and disability insurance as an independent agent. Bob enjoyed meeting people, serving clients, and navigating the complexities of healthcare - so much so that he had yet to retire.

Bob was active in his church community, Healing Hope Seventh-Day Adventist Fellowship (f.k.a. Glendoveer Seventh-Day Adventist Church), serving many roles within the organization during his 40 plus years as a member.

Bob thoroughly enjoyed history, including tinkering with model railroading, participating as a civil war re-enactor with the Northwest Civil War Council, and serving on the board of Adventist Heritage Ministry.

Bob loved people. He had a knack for storytelling and sharing jokes. He was very passionate about and generous with helping others, whether through his business, his church, or his community involvement. He saw the potential in every person or situation he encountered, viewing every challenge as an adventure.

Bob was diagnosed with renal carcinoma in October of 2016. As he had done throughout his life, Bob maintained his humor, optimism and courage for the duration of his battle with cancer. He died surrounded by family on July 12, 2017, at the age of 65 from cancer-related complications.

Bob is survived by his wife Sharon, daughter and son-in-law Michelle Brooks and Andrew Coutu, daughter and son-in-law Mindy Brooks and Jason Gershuny, granddaughter Izabella Gershuny, mother Doris Brooks, brother and sister-in-law Bill and Roni Brooks, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Sid and Carol Kettner, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Jim and Inez Gaull, adoptive brother and sister Joe and Susan Chhuth, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and aunts.

A viewing will be held on Saturday, July 22 from 2-6 PM at Lincoln Memorial Park Funeral Home. A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, July 23 at 11 AM at Sunnyside Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Adventist Heritage Ministry or American Cancer Society.