Howard L. Brooks

Howard L. Brooks, Jr., 88, passed away peacefully on May 12, 2024, at Hospice of Northwest Ohio.

Howard was born February 16, 1936, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to Irene (Carr) Brooks and Howard L. Brooks, Sr. A graduate of Xavier University with a bachelor’s in chemistry, he worked as a technical manager at Wacker Silicones, earning six patents. After his retirement, he consulted for Silchem for 12 years. If you have ever driven a car, worn an adhesive name tag, or sewn with thread, you have used a product he influenced.

A lifelong putterer, Howard loved projects, from building a basement bar, to spending 18 months hand-crafting a dollhouse, to experimenting with chemicals on his secret basement lab bench. Fishing, travel, golf, bridge, double-solitaire, and euchre kept him entertained, along with as many visits to the casino as he could convince his wife to tolerate.

Listening to WJR all his life, he adored the Tigers, Pistons, and Lions, and he cheered for the Xavier Musketeers and Notre Dame Fighting Irish. He loved Florida winters, Michigan summers, and bragging about his grandchildren’s successes.

Howard was proud to have served in the United States Marine Corps Reserves from 1959-1965, achieving the rank of Lance Corporal. He was a member of the American Legion and the Knights of Columbus at St. Joan of Arc Parish.

Howard is survived by his wife Renita M. (Walczak) Brooks. She will celebrate his memory on their 60th anniversary, May 30. They met at a Kentucky Derby Day Party in Fort Wayne in 1963 and were together ever since, through all life’s challenges and joys.

Howard is also survived by his children, Cari (Chuck Knepfle) Brooks and Tod (Yelena) Brooks; his grandchildren and step-grandchildren, Jalen (Emily Coleman) Brooks-Knepfle, Charlie (Elia Despradel) Brooks-Knepfle, Anna Brooks-Knepfle, Josephine Brooks, Jamisen Brooks, Nikita Ashcherkin, and David Kucher; and his sister, Barbara (Brooks) Perriguey.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Sharon (Brooks) Wiesen Wiles.

Family and friends may visit May 17, 2024, from 10-11 am at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 5856 Heatherdowns Blvd. The Funeral Mass for Howard will follow in the church at 11 am. Howard will be laid to rest in Resurrection Cemetery.

The family is grateful to the neighbors who have supported Howard and Renita. Donations may be made in Howard’s memory to the American Diabetes Association.