John Brookens

John W. Brooken, 92, retired Second Judicial District Judge, died March 16, 2009, in Shawnee.

Born Jan. 13, 1917, in Westmoreland, he was the son of E.C. and Flora E. Brookens.

On Nov. 9, 1943, he married Ethel Christenson in New York City. She preceded him in death June 29, 1989. He married Regina Nedwed Moody Feb. 14, 1994, in Blaine. She also preceded him May 5, 2008 as did two sisters, Gertrude and Mary, and a brother, Roy.

He served in the U.S. Army, earning a Bronze Star Service Medal and five Campaign Ribbons.

He practiced law with his father in Westmoreland until his father’s death in 1950. He continued to practice law, serving as Pottawatomie County Attorney for several terms. He served for four years as representative in the Kansas Legislature. He was appointed as Second Judicial District Judge in Sept. 1965, retiring in Sept. 1982. After retiring, he served as legislative council to the Kansas Bar Association and as hearing officer of Kansas Medical Society and Kansas Dental Society. He was appointed as an assigned judge to hearing panels of Kansas Court of Appeals and various district courts through the state.

Survivors include two daughters, Mary Dettmer of Shawnee and Sara Caton of Wichita; a son, J. Robert Brookens of Marion; a sister, Jane Hessler-Brown of Wichita; 11 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Services will at 11 a.m. Saturday at Westmoreland United Methodist Church.

Burial will follow in Westmoreland City Cemetery.

Viewing will be at Stewart Funeral Chapel beginning at 1 p.m. Friday. The family will greet friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials are made to the church or Rock Creek High School. Contributions may be left in care of the funeral home at PO Box 48, Wamego 66547.