In Memory Of
Lawrence Brooks
1934
2020
Lawrence Brooks
June 20, 1934 — May 21, 2020
Lawrence "Larry" Brooks, 85, of Topeka, passed away on Thursday, May 21, 2020 at a Topeka hospital. He was born June 20, 1934 in Nickerson, Kansas, the son of Clinton Henry and Frances Isabel (Lawrence) Brooks.
Larry grew up in the Nickerson area, graduated from Reno Community High School, and attended McPherson College where he met his wife, Nancy. He was a trooper in the Kansas Highway Patrol before moving to Tucson, Arizona, where he joined the Tucson Police Force. There he served in positions as a uniformed officer, detective, school resource officer, firearms instructor at the Police Academy, and fleet services manager. He received an associate's degree in Police Officer Law from LaSalle University. He served a term as President of the Tucson Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #1. He was currently a member of the Topeka Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #3. Larry held positions at the Topeka Genealogical Society and enjoyed researching family history.
While at McPherson College, he sang in the men's quartet and a cappella choirs. He was a choir director at the Highland Park United Methodist Church in 1961. While in Tucson he was soloist and choir member for several churches. He formed and was director of the Tucson Police barbershop chorus, where their music was recorded on an LP and sold for charity.
Larry served in several leadership positions at Topeka Church of the Brethren. He was a member of First United Methodist Church at the time of death.
Larry married Nancy Dayton on September 5, 1954 in Topeka. She survives. Together they are the parents of four children, Cynthia (Rudy) Wilson of Sanford, Florida, Deborah (Robert) Keeshan of Topeka, Mark (Susan) of Lenexa, Kansas and Todd (Shaeli) of Perry, Kansas, seven grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents, an infant son and three sisters, Jo B. Runyan, Eloise Sheets and Connie Miller.
Cremation has taken place and as per Larry's wishes, no memorial services are planned. Private inurnment will take place at a later date at Salem Cemetery, Nickerson, Kansas due to COVID-19 circumstances.
Memorial contributions may be given to the First United Methodist Church, 600 SW Topeka Blvd., Topeka, Kansas 66603 or to the Topeka Church of the Brethren, PO Box 8598, Topeka, Kansas 66608 or to the Genealogical Society, 2717 SE Indiana Ave., Topeka, Kansas 66605 or the National Fraternal Order of Police Foundation, 701 Marriott Drive, Nashville, Tennessee, 37214.
Dove Southwest Chapel, 3700 SW Wanamaker Rd. is assisting the family.
To leave the family a special message, please select the Share Memories option listed above.
Larry grew up in the Nickerson area, graduated from Reno Community High School, and attended McPherson College where he met his wife, Nancy. He was a trooper in the Kansas Highway Patrol before moving to Tucson, Arizona, where he joined the Tucson Police Force. There he served in positions as a uniformed officer, detective, school resource officer, firearms instructor at the Police Academy, and fleet services manager. He received an associate's degree in Police Officer Law from LaSalle University. He served a term as President of the Tucson Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #1. He was currently a member of the Topeka Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #3. Larry held positions at the Topeka Genealogical Society and enjoyed researching family history.
While at McPherson College, he sang in the men's quartet and a cappella choirs. He was a choir director at the Highland Park United Methodist Church in 1961. While in Tucson he was soloist and choir member for several churches. He formed and was director of the Tucson Police barbershop chorus, where their music was recorded on an LP and sold for charity.
Larry served in several leadership positions at Topeka Church of the Brethren. He was a member of First United Methodist Church at the time of death.
Larry married Nancy Dayton on September 5, 1954 in Topeka. She survives. Together they are the parents of four children, Cynthia (Rudy) Wilson of Sanford, Florida, Deborah (Robert) Keeshan of Topeka, Mark (Susan) of Lenexa, Kansas and Todd (Shaeli) of Perry, Kansas, seven grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents, an infant son and three sisters, Jo B. Runyan, Eloise Sheets and Connie Miller.
Cremation has taken place and as per Larry's wishes, no memorial services are planned. Private inurnment will take place at a later date at Salem Cemetery, Nickerson, Kansas due to COVID-19 circumstances.
Memorial contributions may be given to the First United Methodist Church, 600 SW Topeka Blvd., Topeka, Kansas 66603 or to the Topeka Church of the Brethren, PO Box 8598, Topeka, Kansas 66608 or to the Genealogical Society, 2717 SE Indiana Ave., Topeka, Kansas 66605 or the National Fraternal Order of Police Foundation, 701 Marriott Drive, Nashville, Tennessee, 37214.
Dove Southwest Chapel, 3700 SW Wanamaker Rd. is assisting the family.
To leave the family a special message, please select the Share Memories option listed above.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Lawrence Brooks, please visit our flower store.
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