Robert (Bob) Brooks, 76, passed away Monday, April 30, 2018, at his home south of Brookings.  

A private inurnment with the family will be held on Friday, May 4, with a celebration of life service to follow at First Lutheran Church at 3 p.m.  Visitation with the family will be held at First Lutheran Church 5 – 7 p.m. Thursday, May 3.  Rude’s Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.

Robert Lee Brooks was born Dec. 27, 1941, in Stickney to Bennie and Opal (Heidinger) Brooks.  He graduated from Kimball High School in 1959 and South Dakota State University in 1964.  Bob married Nicki Schoepf on Jan. 29, 1964 in Brookings. 

Bob and Nicki moved to Kimball  in June of 1964 so Bob could work with his dad at the family business, Brooks Hardware. 

 In 1969, they moved back to Brookings where they raised their three children, Wayde, Barbara, and Jonna. 

In Brookings he first was employed at Gottschalk Real Estate Company and Hawley-Long Insurance.  He then found his way to the loan business by working for Brookings Savings and Loan which then became Brookings Federal Bank and is now Metabank.  He loved helping his customers get their dream home or succeed in business.

In addition to being involved in lending, Bob was enterprising.  He was a partner in Smitty’s Pancake House in Yankton, the Sport Spot in Aberdeen, the Prairie Lanes, Total Maintenance, Par Line Golf, and the Brookings Credit Bureau & Collection agency.   Nicki called him “The Gambler” and he called himself an “entrepreneur.”

Bob proudly served as a volunteer fireman for the Kimball and Brookings departments for thirty-three years.  He served on the Brookings Utilities Board and the Board of Directors for the Brookings Country Club.  

Bob was blessed with a strong work ethic inherited from his parents and did his best to pass it on to his kids.  He was fiercely protective of his family and friends and was always one to “tell it like it is.”  In addition to Nicki, his passions in this life were his kids and grandkids, his dogs, his friends, hunting, golfing, fishing, and the SDSU Jackrabbits.  His epitomized his favorite motto “work hard, play hard.” 

Survivors include his wife, Nicki.  One son, Wayde of Minneapolis, two daughters, Barbara (Mark) Sterle of Germantown, Wisconsin, and Jonna (Trampis) Wrice of Papillon, Nebraska.  Four grandchildren, Bethany Brooks, Tyler Wrice, Brooklyn Wrice, and Jaxon Wrice and four step grandchildren Brian Sterle, Keri Sterle, Savannah & Noah Sterle.  Four sisters Vaye Jean (Jim) Adamson of Chamberlain, Norma (Don) Husman of Kimball, Betty (Rod) Lipor of Racine, Wisconsin, and Mary Jo (Frank) Andera of Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and many nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents and a dear nephew, Christopher Andera.  

Condolences may be sent to the family through www.rudesfuneralhome.com.