Elaine Mae (Bartz) Brooks passed away peacefully on June 14, 2010 at Waunakee Manor Health Center in Waunakee. Elaine was born on August 17, 1919 in Wilton WI to Minna and Lewis Bartz. She attended both grade and high school in Wilton. She was a graduate of Wisconsin Business University in La Crosse in 1938. Elaine attended Whitewater State University in 1938. She soon moved to Madison and in 1940 was Assistant Field Representative at the University of Wisconsin Extension. Elaine enjoyed meeting many new people in the big city. She soon met Louis Piel Brooks and married him on September 17, 1942. Elaine traveled and lived with her sisters-in-law while Lewis served in the Army from 1942 to 1944. They started their family in 1946. Elaine and Lewis worked many long hours together founding and expanding Brooks Implement (’45) and later building and renting Sun Prairie’s first major apartment complex, Sun Village (’61). Elaine moved to Middleton after her husband, Lewis passed away in 1979. She spent many happy hours with her three children and grandchildren. Elaine loved physical exercise especially golf, walking and yoga. She enjoyed playing bridge, attending badger games, traveling, studying nutrition and sharing her insights with others. Elaine was always there to build someone up or share a prayer. Elaine loved life. Her smile, laughter and rye sense of humor will be remembered. Elaine was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church while in Sun Prairie and frequently attended Bethel Lutheran Church as well. She attended St. Luke’s Lutheran in Middleton and Good Sheppard Lutheran Church after she moved to Middleton. In the past few years after she moved into the Waunakee Manor she looked forward to televised Sunday morning Bethel services. She is survived by a daughter Barb (John) Rockenbach of Madison; a son Lew (Mary Kay) Brooks of Waunakee; 5 grandchildren, Lew, Lauren and Lisbeth Brooks, Daniel and Taylor Rockenbach; sisters-in-law, Josephine Bartz of Mauston and Phyllis Bartz of West Salem and many wonderful nieces and nephews. Elaine was preceded in death by her parents Minna and Louis Bartz; husband, Lewis Brooks in 1979; a daughter, Linda in 1996 and 3 brothers, Evan, Kermit and Robert. A Memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on June 25th, 2010 at Bethel Lutheran Church, 312 Wisconsin Ave. in Madison with Pastor Laura Sutherland presiding. A viistation will be held from 10:00 a.m until the time of service at the Church on Friday. A private burial will be held in Sun Prairie Memory Gardens Cemetery. The family suggests in lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to ‘Bethel Media Ministry’. A special thank you is given to the fantastic, understanding and caring staff at Waunakee Manor and her special friend, Betty.
Tuschen-Newcomer Funeral Home
Sun Prairie 608-837-5400
www.newcomerfh.com