Daniel Rolla Brooks Sr., 82, of Overland Park, KS passed away on February 19, 2026. Visitation will be 12 :00 pm - 1:30 pm on Saturday, June 20th, 2026 at the McGilley & Hoge Chapel, 8024 Santa Fe Drive, Overland Park, KS 66204, with a Celebration of Life Service to follow at 1:30 pm. Memorial contributions are suggested to the American Heart Association, ARC of the Ozarks or Camp Barnabas.
Dan was born on January 14, 1944 in Kansas City, MO. He graduated from Shawnee Mission East in 1962. He married Donna Long on August 10, 1965 in Leawood, KS.
Dan was drafted into the U.S. Army on January 24, 1965 and retired after 33 years of service. He was a helicopter pilot and flight instructor. While in Vietnam (one tour), he was shot down twice. After his retirement from active duty, he went back to work at the Army facility in Olathe, KS as an electrical systems analyst. Dan was a member of VHPA - Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association and the Gardner Masonic Temple. He loved his dog, Ruff, the New Theater and Restaurant, traveling (Cabo), his children, grandkids and great-granddaughter, as well as music.
Dan was preceded in death by his parents, Rolla and Betty (Burke) Brooks; his daughter-in-law, Yvonne M. (Robinett) Brooks; and his wife, Donna (Long) Brooks.
He is survived by his buddy, Ruff; children, Daniel Rolla Brooks Jr. (Michelle Parks), Leawood, KS and Deirdre E. (Brooks) Daniels and her husband, Joe, Springfield, MO; grandchildren, Drew Brooks and his wife, Bethany, Overland Park, KS, Alyssa Daniels and Estes Daniels, both of Springfield, MO; his great-granddaughter, Leia Brooks, Overland Park, KS; sister, Phyllis (Brooks) Van Pelt and her husband, Thom, Piedmont, SD; nephew, Tim Van Pelt and his wife, Danielle, Black Hawk, SD; his nieces, Lydia Van Pelt, Piedmont, SD and Erica Van Pelt, Rapid City, SD; and sister-in-law, Margaret Smith and her husband, Ron, Gilman City, MO; his nieces, Kristy Reno and her husband, Bill, Eagleville, MO and Rhonda Rouchka and her husband, Bryan, Chillichothe, MO; his nephew, Scott Billups and his wife, Sarah, Ridgeway, MO; and several cousins.
