KELLY JOHN HAROLD BROOKER

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KELLY JOHN HAROLD BROOKER On January 5, 2006, while marking papers at home, Kel died suddenly of a heart attack. Kel's death will be mourned by many. He will especially be missed by his three children, Matthew, Alexandra and Zachary; his best friend Vincent; his former wife Jill; and his four siblings, Scott (Susan), Susan (Jerry), Shelley and Kevaughn (Lloyd). Extended family grieving his passing include: Dorothy and Elmer Cairns, Phyllis McCulloch, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Both parents predeceased Kel. Kel was born in Portage la Prairie on April 18, 1953 to Joyce and Elwood Elly Brooker. As the fourth of five Brooker children, Kel reminisced fondly about the growing up years in Portage and cherished his summers at Delta. He graduated from the Portage Collegiate Institute in 1972, having served as student president of that revered Institute. At the time of his death, he was actively involved in the fight to preserve the school name. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts in 1976 and later his Bachelor of Education from the University of Manitoba. Kel married Jill Chambers in October 1979 at St. Luke's Anglican Church. They divorced amicably fourteen years later remaining close friends and actively shared parenting. Kel had participated on various committees and fundraisers with St. Luke's. He was also heavily involved with his divisional teachers association and later the Manitoba Association of Teachers of English. Kel's passion for teaching English will be remembered by the hundreds of students and staff he worked with over the twenty-one years he taught at Oak Park High School and the previous eight years at Westdale Junior High School. His skill and expertise were recognized by the Provincial Department of Education through its engaging him as a professional consultant on the Senior 4 English Provincial Standards Exam for several years. Kel will be remembered for his love of family and friends, his commitment to students and his dedication to teaching. A service of remembrance will be held Wednesday, January 11 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Luke's Anglican Church, 130 Nassau St. N., Winnipeg with Reverend Canon Tony Harwood-Jones and Reverend Richard Condo officiating. If friends so desire, donations may be made to the Kel Brooker Memorial Scholarship with cheques payable to PTESF and sent to Pembina Trails School Division, 181 Henlow Bay, Winnipeg, MB, R3P 1M7

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 10, 2006