Robert Howard Brooks

Robert Howard Brooks finished his work on this earth Sunday, June 14, 2026 after 95 years.

If you knew Bob Brooks, you knew he was full of life. He loved his wife of 68 years, Beverly Ann (Belson) and missed her every day since her passing in 2022. He was an exceptional father to his three daughters

Brenda Rizor (Rick), Sandra VanHattum (Thom), and Linda Howell (Matt), and loving grandfather to nine grandchildren and great-grandfather to 29 great-grandchildren.

He was proud to serve in the National Guard as a Sargent honorably discharged on May 2 of 1955.

Bob worked at the City Bank of Hastings, White’s in Middleville, and EW Bliss before joining the U.S. Post Office. He first delivered mail as a city letter carrier in Hastings, where he was known as “the whistling mailman.” Eventually he took a rural route from which he retired in 1988. Interestingly, part of his rural route overlapped a route that his dad Welton Brooks deliver for years in a horse and buggy or sleigh.

Bob was a master carpenter and had roofed over 50 houses in Hastings over the years along with many other side jobs.

He was a very active member of Hope United Methodist Church for over 60 years where he served in many capacities; his favorite was being a member of the choir.

He loved hunting and fishing and did a lot of trapping when he was a young boy growing up in Cloverdale. He was an avid golfer and even scored a hole-in-one at age 80.

His rose gardens were his pride and joy. He would often bring roses to people, especially at Thornapple Manor as a thank you for how well they took care of his wife in her last days. He had 4 sisters who all proceeded him in death.

He loved people and they loved him.

He was always quick with a joke of some kind or a story to tell. He was the epitome of the phrase “never met a stranger.”

He lived at Harvest Point since October of 2025 where he was a source of happiness to many there.

He will be greatly missed by everyone who came into contact with him and never duplicated.

A special thank you to the staff of Harvest Point, Corewell Hospice, and the Emergency Room and Intensive Care staff for how professionally and lovingly they took care of him and in turn of us at a very difficult time.

A celebration of his life will be held at 2:00pm on Monday, June 29, 2026 at the Hope United Methodist Church of Hastings. Please feel free to leave a memory about Bob on his page at www.girrbachfuneralhome.net. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Corewell Hospice or the Hastings American Legion.