Dorothy Brooks

Dorothy Mae Brooks, age 93 of Decorah, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, January 26, 2025, at Evans Memorial Home in Cresco, Iowa.

Funeral Service will be at 11:00 a.m., on Monday, February 3, 2025, at First United Methodist Church, 302 W Broadway St. Decorah, Iowa with Pastor Cat Stokes presiding. Burial will be held at Phelps Cemetery at a later date. Lunch will be served immediately following the service.

Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the church on Monday.

The service will be live-streamed at the following link: https://m.youtube.com/results?sp=mAEA&search_query=Decorah+FUMC

Dorothy Mae (Vick - Brown) Brooks was born on June 26, 1931, in Glenwood Township, near Decorah Iowa.  She was the daughter of Elmer and Emma (Brynsaas) Vick.  Her father died when she was an infant, and her mother married Ned Brown.  She was baptized in the Glenwood Church and confirmed at First Lutheran Church in Decorah.   She attended country school until sixth grade and graduated from Decorah High School in 1949. She was United in Marriage to William (Bill) Brooks on August 28, 1949, at the First Lutheran Church in Decorah.  This union was blessed with three children: Bruce, Becky and Beth.

Dorothy provided daycare in her home until all her children were in school. After that she worked at Hart’s Bakery where she put her cake decorating skills to use. In 1968 she began working as a State Clerk for the Winneshiek County Soil and Water Conservation District. After twenty-five years she retired in January of 1993, to care for her husband. She volunteered her time at The Minowa Health and Cancer Detection Center as the office manager. She was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Decorah, Iowa and belonged to the Eve Circle for many years. She volunteered at the Aase Haugen home and enjoyed delivering Meals on Wheels for several years. Dorothy enjoyed baking, feeding birds, caring for her flowers and loved spending time with family and friends.

Dorothy is survived by her two daughters: Becky Brooks, Cresco, IA and Beth (Dana) Kirby, Whiting, IA.   She is survived by eight grandchildren: Michelle (Andrew) Pearce, Matthew Brooks, Tamara Tangen, Troy Tangen, Trent (Krista)Tangen, Allison Kirby, Jamie (Zach) Terry, and Mallory (Nicholas) Warren and seven great grandchildren. She is survived by one brother; Harris Brown, Austin MN and three sisters; Sadie (Robert) Sersland, Decorah, IA; Shirley Schick, Decorah, IA and  Lorraine Severson, Waukon, Iowa; and one sister-in-law: Karen Brown, Decorah, IA, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband; Bill Brooks and parents; Elmer Vick, Ned and Emma (Brynsaas) Brown. Son; Bruce Brooks, daughter-in-law; Jackie Brooks, sister; Harriet Leidahl and brother; William (Willie) Brown.

Special thank you to Evans Memorial Home for all the great care given to Dorothy.