George A. Brooker (1906)
BROOKER, FISHER, SHAMBAUGH, SLOCUM
Posted By: Cay Merryman (email)
Date: 7/23/2004 at 22:46:54
May 1906
G. A. Brooker, only son of Mr. & Mrs. Goodliff Brooker, was born 14 December 1863 in Garnavillo, Clayton Co., Ia. and died 22 May 1906 in Earlham. In September 1867 he moved to Madison county, Iowa. September 7, 1887 he married Lida Shambaugh and to this union were born two sons, Marion and Clarence.
One year they later moved to Hartley, O'Brien county for 2 years then back to Van Meter...... Survivors, his father, mother, wife, 2 sons, 2 sisters, Mrs. Fisher of Van Meter and Mrs. R. E. Slocum.
________________________The Winterset Madisonian
Thursday, May 31, 1906
Page 1, Column 3OBITUARY.
G. A. Brooker, only son of Mr. and Mrs. Goodliff Brooker, was born December 14, 1863, in Garnavilla, Clayton county, Iowa, and died on May 22, 1906, at his home in Earlham, Iowa. In September, 1867, he moved with his parents to Madison county, Iowa. When twelve years of age he was converted and united with the M. E. church at the Center school house in Madison township. From the time of his conversion he was a regular attendant upon all the means of grace, and never considered the Sunday school too insignificant to demand his thought and hearty co-operation. He rendered very acceptable service as president of the Epworth League, acting in that capacity during the year just closed and was reelected by the chapter for the present year, May 14, 1906.
He never outgrew his love for his parents, his obedience to their will was never irksome, and his affection for his sisters, to whom his attention was that of a true gentlemen. On September 7, 1887, he was united in marriage to Miss Lida Shambaugh. To this union was born two sons, Marion and Clarence. One year after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Brooker moved to Hartley, O'brien county, Iowa, where they remained about two years, when he came to Van Meter, and with Mr. Fisher as partner, he continued in business there six years. After closing out his business in Van Meter, Mr. Brooker located in Dexter and began business where he remained eight years. Leaving Dexter he temporarily began business in Truro, remaining there about one year, when he came to Earlham in January, 1905. His brief residence in Earlham has endeared him to many people.
He leaves to mourn his loss, father, mother, wife, two sons, two sisters, Mrs. Fisher, of Van Meter, and Mrs. R. E. Slocum, of Fort Collins, Colorado, and a host of friends. Mr. Brooker's christian life was exemplary, his home life ideal. His religious life was never spasmodic, never fluctuating, but always joyful and hopeful and always constant. The last public service that Mr. Brooker attended in the church was prayer meeting, on the evening of May 3d, in which he took part in prayer and testimony to the grace and power of God to keep those who would let Him. He was very sick at the time, but he felt he could not absent himself from the services of the sanctuary as long as he was able to be about. He has gone from the church militant to the church triumphant. Sunday afternoon while the family was gathered around him, he sang, " I'm going home to die no more" About 3 o'clock Tuesday morning he asked his family-to sing, "Shall we gather at the river," "Sweet-by and-by" and "Jesus, Saviour, pilot me. As the friends were singing, he would frequently say "Oh! how beautiful," and when his mother asked him if the heavens were open to him now and the angels were about him, he answered "yes, beautiful, beautiful."
The funeral took place at his home in Earlham, May 24th, at 10 o'clock. The high esteem in which he was held by the community, and his brethren in business was seen in the faces of the large congregation that was present. Business men closing their places of business during the services. The floral pieces were many and beautiful, the business men of Earlham showed their sympathy by placing upon the casket a most beautiful piece. The Gates Ajar. The Epworth League, a design of the badge of the League. The Ladies Aid Society, a large bouquet of beautiful flowers. The funeral was conducted by the pastor of the M. E. church, assisted by Rev. Carl Brown, of DeSoto and Rev. C. S. Burnett, and Rev. Benj. Shin, of Dexter. The remains were laid to rest in the Earlham cemetery.
"From mortal woe, from mortal strife,
From pain to bliss, from death to life,
The form we loved, has risen to be
Encrowned with immortality."
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