Lawrence ("Larry") Brooks, Sr.

Lawrence ("Larry") Michael Brooks, Sr. of Denver, Co. passed away peacefully at the age of 75 on September 14, 2021, following a nearly decade-long victory over advanced cancer.

A lifelong native of Denver, Larry was born at St. Joseph's Hospital on January 10, 1946 to Mary Elizabeth O'Neill Brooks and Walter Leroy Brooks.  The youngest of three siblings, Larry enjoyed being doted on by his big sister Karen Ann and sharing countless adventures with his brother Bob.  Their home was one filled with laughter, love, and faith, giving Larry an incredible foundation to carry forward through his education, family, and career.

He attended St. Francis de Sales High School and graduated from Regis College in 1968 and, during a brief stint working retail at Joslin's, met a stunning young woman, Joyce Marie Angle, who instantly became the love of his life for 52 years and, undoubtedly, now the love of his eternal life.  They married on August 30, 1969 at St. Elizabeth's Church in Denver, Colorado and had five children.  Larry and Joyce's shared faith played a paramount role in their married life and they continually impressed upon their children the importance of keeping Christ central in their relationships, careers, and daily interactions with others.

Larry was a locomotive engineer for 30 years when he retired from Union Pacific Railroad in May of 2007.  A train buff by blood, it was his dream career and allowed him to enjoy the unique beauty of the Rocky Mountains unseen to most, while providing for his growing family.  Larry brought his love of Christ to his work and demonstrated the fundamental values of integrity, hard work, service, and care and concern for others.  An avid reader, Larry was often seen lugging around books in his duffle, which he would eagerly study and discern during his travels, earning him a reputation as the train theologian.

In his retirement, Larry enjoyed volunteering as a catechist to youth at St. Vincent de Paul Church and participated in several religious-based groups, including the Third Order Franciscans, the Patriarchs, and other prayer groups where he met many friends who enriched his own faith and inspired him to live a life, united with Christ.

In March of 2012, Larry was diagnosed with aggressive, metastatic prostate cancer.  While the diagnosis was crushing, it ignited Larry's faith, his spirit of perseverance, positivity, and gratitude, and his incredible embodiment of mind over matter.  Larry walked with God in this journey and saw Him in others along the way.  Even when faced with the fright that often accompanied his numerous medical appointments, Larry asked for guidance to let go and let God work through others and through him, which undoubtedly gave him many years past his prognosis.  That faith led him to a medical team at UCHealth led by Dr. Thomas Flaig whose superb gifts as a physician and enormous heart for his patients gave Larry many joyful years both despite and because of his cancer.  Not surprisingly, Larry made many friends along the way, including those he inspired through his faith, gratitude, fortitude, humor, and radiant positivity, despite even the most dire of circumstances, including in his final days.  By the same token, he deeply empathized with those in their own suffering, and let his love for them, in the spirit of Christ, shine through.

Larry held a love for travel and different cultures and took his family on numerous vacations and pilgrimages to religious sites, including a cherished trip to the Holy Land where he and Joyce commemorated their 50th anniversary, at the time.

Larry was preceded in death by his son Gabriel Raphael, his parents Mary and Walter Brooks, his sister Karen Ann, and his brother Bob.  He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Joyce, four children, and five grandchildren, including: Mike Brooks and his wife Jennifer and their daughters Josie and Julia (Centennial, Co.), John Brooks (Denver, Co.), Bridgette O'Connor and her husband Danny and their daughter Maggie (Lafayette, Co.), and Michelle Hill and her husband David and their sons Jack and Niko (Arvada, Co.)

With his passing, Larry leaves an enormous gap in the lives of the many individuals he touched.  A visitation will be on Sunday, September 19th at 2:00 p.m with the Rosary following at 4:00 p.m. at Horan and McConaty Mortuary at 1091 So. Colorado Blvd.  He will be laid to rest on Monday, September 20th at 9:30 a.m. at a Mass of Christian Burial at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver, Co.  Entombment will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery at 12:00 p.m.

Masks and social distancing are strongly encouraged for those in attendance.  The Mass will be live streamed via Zoom for those unable to attend due to illness, distance, precautions, etc.  Please see details for video and phone option below.

In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to the CU Cancer Center via University of Colorado Hospital Foundation at 12605 E. 16th Ave., F784, Aurora, CO 80045, https://www.uchospitalfoundation.org/.

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83695169700?pwd=ZEhkVVVTb01COUpyM1pINmV5ZEhWZz09

Meeting ID: 836 9516 9700
Passcode: 900580

Or dial by phone:

1-253-215-8782 (US)
Meeting ID: 836 9516 9700
Passcode: 900580

Masks and social distancing are strongly encouraged for those in attendance.

In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to the CU Cancer Center via University of Colorado Hospital Foundation at 12605 E. 16th Ave., F784, Aurora, CO 80045, uch-foundation@uchealth.org.