Charles Alvin and Frances E. Clabaugh Brooks had three sons serving in World War II:
Melvin LeRoy Brooks was born June 8, 1919. He died Jan. 7, 2013 and is buried in Graceland Cemetery, Webster City, IA.
Pvt. Brooks served in the U.S. Army 136th Infantry from May of 1942 to November of 1945, receiving a bronze star. He served in the Pacific Theatre of Action.
Source: ancestry.com
Obituary:
Melvin L. Brooks, 93, of Fort Dodge, died Monday, January 7, 2013 at his home. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Foster Chapel, with Pastor Chad Halbach officiating. Burial will be in the Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will be at the Foster Funeral and Cremation Center from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday and prior to the service on Friday. Military rites will be conducted by American Legion Post # 191.
Melvin LeRoy Brooks, son of Charles and Frances Clabaugh Brooks, was born June 8, 1919 on a farm near Stratford. He received his education in a rural school in that area. He served in the U.S. Army 136th Infantry from May of 1942 to November of 1945, receiving a bronze star. He served in the Pacific Theatre of Action. On August 11, 1948, he married Irene M. Anderson at Denver, CO. The couple resided in Webster City. Irene died September 16, 1978. With his brothers, Randall and Stewart, they owned and operated the Webster City Rewind Shop from 1939 to 1982. They had also owned a plastic injection business which was purchased by Willie and Bev Van Whye in 1983. In 1984, he moved to Fort Dodge. In 1985, he married Joyce M. Owenson at Nashua. The couple resided in Fort Dodge. Joyce died April 9, 2012.
Mr. Brooks is survived by sons and daughters-in-law, David Brooks, Philip and Diane Brooks, all of Cedar Rapids; daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Dr. Larry Beard of Lima, OH; 18 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; sister, Dorothy Allie Hanson of Augusta, GA; step-sons, Doug (Mary Beth) Owenson of Dayton; Denny (Julie) Owenson of Dayton; Bruce (Pam) Owenson of Harcourt; several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents; brothers and spouses, Randall (Mildred) Brooks; Riley (Aurora) Brooks; Stewart (Marie) Brooks; sisters and spouses, Yvonne (Thomas) Prehm; Retta (Loran) Raines; brothers-in-law, Peyton Allie and Richard Hanson.
He was a member of the Church of Christ; American Legion Post # 191, where he was a past commander; was active in his children’s and grandchildren’s scouting and athletics; he especially enjoyed Iowa Hawkeye football, where David played from 1968-1979.
Source: Fort Dodge Messenger, Fort Dodge, IA - Jan. 9, 2013
