Funeral Services for James Brooks, age 85, will be held at 10AM Saturday at Williams Funeral Home in Knoxville. Visitation will begin after 1PM Friday at the Williams Funeral Home with the family present from 6-8PM. Burial with military honors will follow services at Lincoln Cemetery in rural Marion County. Online condolences may be sent to www.williamsfhknoxville.com

He was introduced to the love of his life, Merry Jo Pinhero, by his mother when they were both hospitalized at Methodist Hospital in 1946. They were married almost 64 years and raised five children, Dan (Vicki) of Carlisle, Carol Keeney of Huxley, Robert (Mary Lou) of Knoxville, Dennis (Mary) of Knoxville, and Mary (Randy) Ripperger of West Des Moines. James and Merry Jo had 14 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. He is survived by his sister Helen Stevenson, Robert D. Brooks (Dottie); Marvin (Joyce) Brooks all of Knoxville, and Barbara Petersen of Ankeny and sister in law Midge Brooks of Pleasantville. He will be mourned by cousins, nieces and nephews too numerous to mention.