Obituary of Russell J. Brooker

Russell J. Brooker, Sr. Town of Fishkill - Russell J. Brooker, Sr., 99, entered into rest Monday, June 18, 2007, his birthday, at Elant at Fishkill, where he was a resident since 2002. He was born June 18, 1908 in the City of Poughkeepsie, the son of Leslie H. Brooker and the former Jennie E. VanKueren. His grandparents were Smith A. and Augusta Letts Brooker and James A. and Henrietta Smith VanKueren. He also had a paternal step-grandmother, Bertha Lipfert Brooker. Mr. Brooker was raised in the City of Poughkeepsie and lived in Shenandaoh, East Fishkill for fifteen years prior to moving to Fishkill in 1947. He was a 1927 graduate of Poughkeepsie High School. While in high school, he worked for Molino Plow Company and Peter's Sweet Shop. From 1928 to 1933, he started his career by working for Royal Typewriter Company, Underwood Company and Chester Satz Company. Prior to establishing his own business, he worked for Eggleston Office Equipment Company. In 1960, he began his own office supply company, R.J. Brooker Company, Inc. on Dutchess Turnpike in Poughkeepsie. He retired on June 18, 1973. On June 5, 1932 in Kent, Connecticut he married Eda Mary Knapp. His devoted wife of seventy-three years predeceased him on December 24, 2005. Russell was a member of the Bethel Baptist Church in Shenandoah. During his retirement he enjoyed CBing and traveling the country with his wife in their mobile home. Survivors include a son, R. James Brooker, Jr. and his wife, Sandra J. of Wappingers Falls; two daughters, Carolyn B. Minard and her husband, William, Jr. of Wappingers Falls and Laurie G. Muro and her husband, Peter of Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania; a brother-in-law, D. Robert Knapp, Jr. of Deland, Florida; thirteen grandchildren, Dennis and Dale Brooker, Deborah Singler, David, Douglas and Daniel Robinson, Janine McQueen, Karen Taylor, Kristina DeBerardinus, Kevin Muro, Donna Magro, Diana Mirra and Christina Genesky; twenty-seven great-grandchildren; four nieces and one nephew. He was predeceased by his brother-in-law, Donald F. Knapp in 1996 and a great-grandson, Andrew Brooker in 1993. Visitation will be from 7 to 9 pm on Thursday, June 21, 2007 at Straub, Catalano and Halvey Funeral Home, 55 East Main Street, Wappingers Falls. A funeral service will be held at 8:30 pm on Thursday at the funeral home. Interment will be at 10 am on Friday, June 22 in Shenandoah Rural Cemetery, Shenandoah. Memorial donations on Mr. Brooker's behalf may be made to Elant at Fishkill, Alzheimer's Unit, 22 Robert R. Kasin Way, Beacon, NY 12508.. To send the family a personal condolence or for directions to the funeral home, please visit our website at www.StraubCatalanoHalvey.com