Joseph H Brooks Jr.

Northbridge- Joseph H. Brooks, Jr., 87, of Douglas, MA, formerly of Northbridge and Dover-Foxcroft, went to be with his Lord on Sunday, June 19, 2022 surrounded by his family following a brief period of declining health.  

         Joe is survived by his wife, Joan (Deschene), and his children: Joan (Charlie) Brothers of Douglas, Joseph Brooks and his partner, Cheryl, of Thompson, CT, Julie (Jason) Phelps of Douglas, Lisa (James) Cove of Douglas, and Lynn (Erik) Johnson of Topsham, ME.  Joe leaves behind 9 grandchildren: Jarrod and Aaron Brothers, Melissa and Lori Brooks, Samuel and Benjamin Phelps, Chad Fletcher and Leann (Steven) Rosenlund, and Emily Johnson.  Joe also leaves behind 9 great-grandchildren: Christopher, Brianna and Brendon Brothers; Brody, Mason and Colton Fletcher; Wesley and Cameron Rosenlund, and Magnus Andersen.  Joe was predeceased by a son, Jeffrey Brooks, and several brothers and sisters.  He is survived by two sisters: Peg (Stanley) Rozak of Franklin, MA, and Mary (Dick) Adams of Spencer, MA, and three brothers: James (Pam) Brooks of Rockdale, David (Rita) Brooks of Northbridge, and Richard (Paulette) Brooks of Linwood, as well as many nieces and nephews.

         Joe, or “Sonny”, as he was known by family and close friends, was born on March 14, 1935 in the Rockdale section of Northbridge, the oldest of 12 children.  Educated in the Northbridge Public Schools, Joe left school at age 16 to enlist in the army during the Korean Conflict, misrepresenting his true age so that he could enlist.  Following basic training, Joe was stationed in Texas and was honorably discharged from the army in 1954 to return home to marry the love of his life, Joan Deschene.  He and Joan were just days shy of celebrating their 68th wedding anniversary.

        Joe was best known for his life-long work ethic and his passion for family.  As a man with a young family, Joe built a home for his family in Whitinsville while simultaneously working two jobs.  Additionally, Joe helped his father-in-law with the manufacture and distribution of “Home Town” soda, in Whitinsville, throughout the 1950s and 1960s.  A tool and die maker by trade, Joe worked at the Whitin Machine Works and also ran his own tool and die business from his home.  Later, he worked at General Electric in Ashland and GM in Framingham, retiring in 1991.   Following his retirement, Joe continued to work in his tool and die business before relocating to Dover-Foxcroft, ME, in 1991, where he, Joan and Lynn lived until he and Joan relocated back to the area in 2018 to be closer to family, living with their daughter, Lisa, and her husband, Jim Cove.

       Proud of his status as a U.S. Veteran, Joe was active in the American Legion in Maine, taking part in local veteran activities.  Most recently, Joe was honored in November 2021 as a surviving veteran of the Korean War era by the Metro-west VA Hospice, an honor he was most proud of and deeply appreciated.

        Special thanks are extended to the staff of Metro-west VA Hospice and Advinia Care Nursing Home, Northbridge, for their kindness and care of Joe over the past several months.  In particular, grateful appreciation is extended to Joe’s hospice nurse, Liz, for her dedication and love during Joe’s declining health.

        He was an incredible man, husband and father. He will be missed and loved forever!

        A Service of Remembrance to honor Joe will be held at Jackman Funeral Home, Whitinsville, on Friday, July 1, 2022 at 11 AM. Interment will follow in Fairview Cemetery, South Grafton. Memorial calling hours will be held prior to the service from 10 -11 AM. In lieu of flowers, donations in Joe’s name may be made to Metro-west Hospice, 200 Nickerson Road, Suite 110, Marlborough, MA 01752, or the Worcester County Food Bank, https://foodbank.org. To leave a condolence message for His family please visit: http://www.Jackmanfuneralhomes.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Joseph H Brooks Jr., please visit our floral store.