Donnie Rooks

Major, United States Army

Donnie ("Don") was born August 25th, 1934 in Hall Summit, Louisiana to Wiley and Ozell (Woodard) Rooks, the first of 8 children. He passed away December 23rd, 2018.

Don graduated from High School in 1952 in Bossier City, Louisiana. A three-year stint as a local Firefighter followed before joining the Army in March 1955. After completing basic training in Camp Chaffee, Arkansas, Don was assigned to the 11th Airborne Division at Ft Campbell, Kentucky. There he completed airborne jump school. The Division was transferred to Germany in early 1956. Shortly thereafter he met his future wife, Charlotte. After completing a 6-month Intelligence and Foreign Language School in Oberammergau, Germany, he and Charlotte were married in Munich in September 1957.

Following a series of assignments in the Intelligence field, Don was commissioned as a Warrant Officer at Ft Bliss, Texas in 1962. Assignments in the Air Defense field followed. Don and family shipped out to a second tour in Germany in January 1964. In July 1964, Don received a direct commission to First Lieutenant in the Signal Corps. Following numerous Staff and Project Manager assignments and two combat tours in Vietnam, Major Rooks retired in Heidelberg, Germany in March 1975.

Major Rooks and family moved to Munich where he started a second career with a European Aerospace Firm. While progressing in his new career, Don and Charlotte found time to travel throughout Western Europe and other countries. They were avid outdoors people enjoying skiing on the slopes of Germany, France, Austria and Italy in the winter. The summer months found them biking or hiking in the beautiful forests and mountain plateaus of Germany and Italy.

Following his career in Germany, the family moved to Colorado Springs in October 1992, still enjoying the great outdoors provided in Colorado and traveling with their RV’s throughout the USA, including Alaska.

Don’s interests were skiing and golfing. He was a long time member of the Blazers Ski Club and the Eisenhower Men’s Golfing Association at the Air Force Academy Golf Course.

Don was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Charlotte in May 2012; daughter Cheryl Lynn in October 2008 and brother Bill Rooks. He is survived by stepson, Wolfgang Radlinger of Australia; two granddaughters Heather Marcotti of Oregon and Jodi Luna of Seattle, Washington; 4 great grandchildren and brother Wiley Jr of Louisiana.

A committal service will be held on Thursday, January 3rd, 9:00am Area “A” at Fort Logan National Cemetery, 3698 S. Sheridan Blvd, Denver CO 80235. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Vacations for Warriors. Arrangements are being handled by the Swan Law Funeral Directors of Colorado Springs.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Vacations for Warriors.