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Vera Rose Helling Brooks was born on December 22, 1923 at the family farm on Territorial Road, Town of Richmond, Walworth County, WI the daughter of Ernest and Amanda (Klug) Helling. She was baptized as a child of God on January 13, 1924 at home by Rev. Herbert C. Schumacher of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Milton. She was welcomed home by her Savior to heaven on December 1, 2015.
Vera attended the rural Finch School grade school and graduated from Whitewater City High School in 1941. She received her two year teaching certificate from Whitewater Teachers College in 1943 and her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from there in 1953. She later earned credits toward a Master’s Degree from UW Whitewater. She taught in rural Walworth County schools for 9 ½ years where her duties included starting the fire and shoveling snow. From 1952 to 1955, Vera taught 4th grade at Barrie School in Fort Atkinson. She later taught 4th grade for 22 years at the Lakeview School where she supervised 16 student teachers and started the first computer classes. Her students will remember her for her love of Wisconsin. Vera married Donald Brooks on June 7, 1952 at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Whitewater. Together, they farmed in the Hebron, WI and Richmond, WI areas where Vera assisted with the farm work including helping with the field work. Her church, Christus Lutheran Church, Richmond, WI was a very important part of Vera’s life. She was confirmed there on October 3, 1937, taught Sunday School for 53 years, served on numerous committees, was a member of LWMS, was church organist for 12 years, a member of the choir since the 1940’s and helped construct many of the church banners. While she was a teacher, Vera was on the organization committee for the WCLO School of the Air program for Rural and State Graded Schools , presenting several programs with her rural students on WCLO. She was Richmond 4-H Sewing Leader for 17 years and a photography leader. She enjoyed genealogy including writing histories of her family, the Richmond community and her church. She enjoyed wildlife, especially bird watching, attending Class of ’41 reunions and family reunions. Vera’s real joy came from helping to spread the Word of God through missions and evangelism.
Vera counted as her Special Blessings; her children, Dawn and Dale (Lisa) Brooks, grandchildren, Alec, Ethan (Molly) and Sarah Brooks, brother, Floyd (Flora) Helling nephew Steve (Aundie) Helling, niece Sharon (Mitch) Maves along with 9 Godchildren. Vera’s husband, Donald died on April 29, 1975 following a 12 year battle with cancer. She was also preceded in death by her parents and her brother-in-law Ralph (Dora) Brooks.
A visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. Saturday, December 5, 2015 at Christus Lutheran Church. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. Saturday with Rev. Bruce Wietzke officiating. Burial will be in Richmond Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Christus Lutheran Church or WELS Kingdom Workers. Henke-Clarson Funeral Home, Janesville is assisting the family.
We take comfort in the words that our precious Lord God gives us in II Timothy 4: 7-8. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”

Vera Rose Helling Brooks was born on December 22, 1923 at the family farm on Territorial Road, Town of Richmond, Walworth County, WI the daughter of Ernest and Amanda (Klug) Helling. She was baptized as a child of God on January 13, 1924 at home by Rev. Herbert C. Schumacher of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Milton. She was welcomed home by her Savior to heaven on December 1, 2015.
Vera attended the rural Finch School grade school and graduated from Whitewater City High School in 1941. She received her two year teaching certificate from Whitewater Teachers College in 1943 and her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from there in 1953. She later earned credits toward a Master’s Degree from UW Whitewater. She taught in rural Walworth County schools for 9 ½ years where her duties included starting the fire and shoveling snow. From 1952 to 1955, Vera taught 4th grade at Barrie School in Fort Atkinson. She later taught 4th grade for 22 years at the Lakeview School where she supervised 16 student teachers and started the first computer classes. Her students will remember her for her love of Wisconsin. Vera married Donald Brooks on June 7, 1952 at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Whitewater. Together, they farmed in the Hebron, WI and Richmond, WI areas where Vera assisted with the farm work including helping with the field work. Her church, Christus Lutheran Church, Richmond, WI was a very important part of Vera’s life. She was confirmed there on October 3, 1937, taught Sunday School for 53 years, served on numerous committees, was a member of LWMS, was church organist for 12 years, a member of the choir since the 1940’s and helped construct many of the church banners. While she was a teacher, Vera was on the organization committee for the WCLO School of the Air program for Rural and State Graded Schools , presenting several programs with her rural students on WCLO. She was Richmond 4-H Sewing Leader for 17 years and a photography leader. She enjoyed genealogy including writing histories of her family, the Richmond community and her church. She enjoyed wildlife, especially bird watching, attending Class of ’41 reunions and family reunions. Vera’s real joy came from helping to spread the Word of God through missions and evangelism.
Vera counted as her Special Blessings; her children, Dawn and Dale (Lisa) Brooks, grandchildren, Alec, Ethan (Molly) and Sarah Brooks, brother, Floyd (Flora) Helling nephew Steve (Aundie) Helling, niece Sharon (Mitch) Maves along with 9 Godchildren. Vera’s husband, Donald died on April 29, 1975 following a 12 year battle with cancer. She was also preceded in death by her parents and her brother-in-law Ralph (Dora) Brooks.
A visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. Saturday, December 5, 2015 at Christus Lutheran Church. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. Saturday with Rev. Bruce Wietzke officiating. Burial will be in Richmond Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Christus Lutheran Church or WELS Kingdom Workers. Henke-Clarson Funeral Home, Janesville is assisting the family.
We take comfort in the words that our precious Lord God gives us in II Timothy 4: 7-8. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”