John W. Brookens

Westmoreland- John W. Brookens, 92, retired 2nd Judicial District Judge died March 16, 2009 in Shawnee, Kansas. He was born January 13, 1917 in Westmoreland, Kansas the son of E.C. and Flora E. Brookens. He attended the public schools in Westmoreland and earned a B.A. in 1938 from the University of Kansas and later graduated from the University of Kansas School of Law with an L.L.B. in 1941. He married Ethel Christenson on November 9, 1943 in New York City at the Church of the Transfiguration (known as The Little Church around the Corner). They married while John served in the United States Army on overseas furlough. To this union three children were born, Mary, Sara and Bob. John entered the U.S. Army in June 1942 and was discharged in 1946. He spent two years overseas and served with the 5th Armored Division in Europe. He was declared physically unfit to the officer’s commission in the States due to his poor eyesight. Overseas, he was promoted from Corporal to Sergeant, to Staff Sergeant, to Tech Sergeant, then was given a battlefield Commission as 2nd Lieutenant and was discharged later as First Lieutenant. He earned a Bronze Star Service Medal and 5 Campaign Ribbons. John returned to Westmoreland where he made his home for the rest of his life. He practiced law with his father E.C. Brookens until 1950 when his father died. After his father died John continued to practice in Westmoreland and served as Pottawatomie County Attorney for several terms. He served as Representative in the Kansas Legislature for 4 years in the early 1950’s. He was appointed 2nd Judicial District Judge in September 1965 and retired in September 1982. After retiring, he served as Legislative Counsel to the Kansas Bar Association for 2 years and also served as hearing officer for the Kansas Medical Society and Kansas Dental Society. He was appointed as assigned judge to hearing panels of the Kansas Court of Appeals and various District Courts throughout the State of Kansas. Ethel preceded him in death on June 29, 1989. He later married Regina Nedwed Moody at St. Columbkille’s Catholic Church in Blaine on February 14, 1994. She also preceded him in death on May 5, 2008. In addition to his wives and parents, John was also preceded in death by his sisters Gertrude and Mary and his brother Roy. Survivors include: his daughters, Mary Dettmer and her husband Gary of Shawnee, KS and Sara Caton of Wichita, KS; his son, J. Robert Brookens and his wife Anita of Marion, KS; his grandchildren, Eldon, Marie, Matthew, Sarah, Maribeth, Christen, John Christopher, Nathan, Andrew, Justin and Michael; his great-grandchildren Kayle, Graelyn, Logan, Leah, Brayden and Jackson; and his sister Jane Hessler-Brown of Wichita, KS; Funeral Services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday March 21st at Westmoreland United Methodist Church with burial following in Westmoreland City Cemetery. Mr. Brookens will lie in state at Stewart Funeral Chapel in Westmoreland starting at 1:00 p.m. on Friday March 20th and the family will greet friends from 5-7:00 p.m. The family requests that in lieu of flowers memorials be made in his name for the Westmoreland United Methodist Church or Rock Creek High School. Contributions may be left in care of the funeral home P.O. Box 48, Wamego 66547.