Brooke Thrasher's Obituary
O B I T U A R Y Brooke Neilan Thrasher July 4, 1921 – September 26, 2017SAN MATEO, CA– On July 4, 1921 in Gary, IN, Glenn and Doveie Thrasher were blessed with the birth of Brooke Neilan Thrasher, their first of two sons. In high school, Brooke played violin, was a state swimming champion, and served in the ROTC. He worked briefly at US Steel in Gary before enlisting in the US Army Air Corps where he served in WWII as an aircraft mechanic in New Guinea and Australia.After the war, he began a 40-year career with United Airlines. He first worked at the Cheyenne, WY maintenance base, where he met his future bride, Betty Steele; they married in June 1947. In 1949 UAL transferred Brooke to their San Francisco maintenance base. They moved in 1953 to Redwood City, CA to raise their children.Brooke loved his family and supported their many activities, such as the Boy Scouts where he was assistant Scoutmaster, Girl Scouts, youth groups, school projects, and so much more. He drove the family throughout the country on vacations to visit family, friends, and National Parks. Most summers Brooke and Betty co-hosted a week at Echo Summit Lodge near Lake Tahoe, CA.When Brooke retired from United, the couple devoted themselves to “rock hounding,” traveling to dusty, remote corners of the U.S. to dig up seemingly plain rocks they then skillfully crafted into beautiful necklaces, rings, bracelets, belt buckles, bolo ties, bookends, and other items. Betty and Brooke were integral members of Redwood City’s Sequoia Gem and Mineral Society.Brooke was both an amateur geologist and an amateur astronomer! He built an eight-foot-long, 10” reflector telescope. He took it on their rock hound trips, earning the nickname “Moon Man” because he would set up the telescope so everyone could see the moon, planets, and stars. He regularly shared the telescope with neighbors and family, and for his granddaughters’ school science activities.Betty died in 2014 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.In September 2016 Brooke fell while on a neighborhood walk, breaking his hip and shoulder. After surgery and convalescence, he returned home, only to fall again and break an arm. His children moved him to a San Mateo residential care home, where he lived until his peaceful death in his sleep in September 2017; he was 96.Brooke truly was a member of “the greatest generation.” He was hard working, curious, dedicated, courageous, patriotic, friendly, gracious, humorous, and patient. He made friends easily and sought to put others at ease. He was an example to us all. Brooke is survived by his children Rick Thrasher (Janice) of San Jose CA and Susan Thrasher of Medford OR; granddaughters Elizabeth Thrasher Wheatley (Chris), Sarah Thrasher, and Hannah Thrasher; great-grandsons William, Henri, and Elliot Thrasher Wheatley; many nieces and nephews, and innumerable family and friends. We will all miss him dearly!Brooke was buried alongside his wife at Skylawn Memorial Park in San Mateo CA, in a private ceremony. Express condolences or share memories on the Skylawn web site (https://www.skylawnmemorialpark.com/obituaries/). In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Brooke & Betty Thrasher Alzheimer Fund on the Alzheimer’s Association web site, where you can also see photos and share memories (http://act.alz.org/goto/BrookeandBettyThrasher ). Please send cards to 2190 Bristolwood Ln., San Jose CA 95132.
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