Norman LaRue Brooks

Norman LaRue Brooks, born November 30,1924 in Grand Jct. Colorado, passed away peacefully on January 8, 2025, in Arlington Washington after a life of devotion to his family, friends, and country. He lived a truly extraordinary 100 years and made contributions as a patriot, landscaper, and a hero who was loved by all of his family. He was blessed with a daughter Linda (Mark Kinsman), sons Kenneth (Pamela), Michael (Judy) and Jerry (Lori), 9 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and 9 great-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Lena White in December 2003, his son Michael in December 1972, grandson Todd Kinsman in December 2000, and his second wife Rosemary in April 2021. The son of Arthur G. and Anna LaRue Brooks he was raised on a ranch in Palisade, Colorado with his older siblings, Jeannette, Paul and Bruce Brooks. Throughout his youth he developed a love for fishing, hunting and climbing in the mountains of western Colorado.

After graduating high school in 1942, he enlisted in the Army in July 1943. Following basic training, his love of the mountains in western Colorado led him to volunteer for the 10th Mountain Division, US Army. This elite unit trained in Camp Hale, Colorado, departing for the Italy campaign in the winter of 1944-45. A proud WWII veteran of the 10th Mountain Division, he was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star and Purple Heart for combat in Northern Italy in 1945. He made a career in the Army following WWII and was stationed in Germany (Big Red One) following the war and later in Okinawa and Vietnam as a member of the Army Security Agency (ASA). He retired from the Army in January 1970 and followed his Army career with a second career as a master gardener with the grounds department of the University of Washington, Seattle. In his new home in the Seattle area, his 10th Mountain roots inspired him to climb mountains, including Rainier, Baker, Adams and Mt. St. Helens; he eventually hiked the entire length of the Cascade Trail. Throughout his life he was always a man who could be counted on to support family members in need.