Kenneth Jay Brooks

Beloved husband, brother, father, grandfather, uncle and friend. Ken was born in Chicago, Illinois. Born to Samuel and Sadie Brooks, Ken has an Older Brother, Edward (Gloria/wife, Michael, Kimberly/Andrew, Amber, Shane, Addison) and a Younger Sister, Paula (Beth, Dore, Jacalyn/Eli). He attended Senn High School and then attended Northern Illinois University to earn his Bachelor’s degree and Teaching Certificate. He also earned his Masters Degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology from Northern Illinois University. He was man that was FULL OF LIFE and lived life to the fullest! This showed through in his work as a Speech teacher and Theater Director at both DeKalb High School, DeKalb, Illinois and Morton East High School, Cicero, Illinois. He was also the Head of Gifted Programming at Morton East High School. His students’ high school plays and forensic speech contests won numerous awards at State Level competition year after year. After growing up in Chicago, Ken moved to DeKalb, Illinois where he built a wonderful life with his wife, Barbara, and his two children Darren and Allison (Jacob/husband, Riley Addison Zoey/Children). In 1975, Ken and Steve began their 44-year relationship and marriage together. After retiring, Ken and Steve moved to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida full-time in 1998. It cannot go unsaid, that Ken’s immediate family also consisted of Peter Abrams (Barbara’s Husband) and his children by marriage Lizz (Chuck), Jason (Marian/wife, Kathleen/daughter). Family was something that was very important to Ken. This includes Steve’s brother and sisters. Claudia (Greg/husband, Richard, Robert, Tiffany), Nancy (Larry/husband, Scott), Jimmy, Bev (Randy, Ryan) and Denise.

Ken and Steve were avid travelers. Ken loved to collect one special rock from each of the places that they visited. They also previously owned and self-renovated various houses and apartment complexes while spending many happy days on Steve’s boat. They loved to entertain and have friends and relatives share in their home through laughter and food. Their Halloween parties were legendary to say the least! Ken had many friends and always had a joke and smile to share with anyone that he met. Ken was preceded in death by his parents and his Brother-in-Law Peter Abrams.

Services will be held at the Star of David Memorial Gardens and Bailey Memorial Cemetery and Funeral Chapel. 7801 Bailey Road. North Lauderdale, Florida 33068. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/north-lauderdale-fl/kenneth-brooks-8245577

Funeral Services will be held at Sunday 4/14/2019, 10:30am in the Star of David Chapel. Then the gravesite service will follow immediately after. The family invites friends to Ken and Steve’s home at 4114 Palm Aire Drive, Unit #144B, Pompano Beach, Florida. 33069. In lieu in flowers, donations in Ken’s name should be donated to the Leukemia Research Foundation. Please feel free to share your favorite memory, or story, here on this website.