A broad-shouldered, sweet-tempered, and downright good-looking man passed in Orillia on Tuesday, March 15, 2022.
At the end, James (Jim) Brooker was in his preferred setting: surrounded by the family that adored him.
Jim is survived by his wife of 62 years, Carol Brooker (Watt) who first spotted those shoulders when she was a grade 9 student at ODCVI - it was the spark that began a love story for the ages.
He is also survived by his children Susan and Brad; their spouses Ted Markle and Julia Brooker; his grandchildren Catriona and Caleigh; and his step-grandchildren Carrie, Simon, and Louis. He is predeceased by his mother Muriel Sadie Brooker and sister Norma Corrigan.
Jim will be missed by so many extended family members and dear friends both near and far.
Strong as an ox, at age 85, Jim continued to embrace life to the fullest and could do a six-minute plank. An avid golfer and fitness fanatic, in recent weeks he started Cross Fit classes where - when the instructor requested five rounds of an exercise - you know Jim was doing ten.
He so looked forward to Friday happy hour for his fishbowl-sized Manhattan - free poured Canadian Club, ice, and just a whisper of Vermouth. On a good night, he might slip back into the kitchen to top it up - hoping the rest of us in the family room wouldn’t hear the glug-glug of the whisky bottle.
Jim loved animals and they loved him right back. He was happiest at those family gatherings when the dog leaned into him and he fed treats to a cat on his lap.
His level of activity allowed him to maintain a hearty appetite and stay in fighting form. Movie theatre popcorn - with explicit instructions on layering the butter; second helpings of desert; just about anything from the bbq; Chelsea’s from Wilkie’s; and barrels of Jujubes were among his favourites.
Jim’s career began in the engineering department at Dorr-Oliver in the 1950’s. Six years later, he was recruited by the Beloit Corporation for a role in pulp and paper machinery and he and Carol made the move to Wisconsin U.S.A.
In 1963, Jim accepted another offer, this time to the Dorr-Oliver head office in Stamford, Connecticut where he worked in industrial filtration. In 1969 he was promoted to their International Sales Division in wastewater which lead him to manage accounts across North and South America. A Company Director remarked that Jim’s “good boy image” made him an ideal candidate. Well, for Jim, it was more than image. His integrity and affability helped him build long-lasting relationships of trust that were the driving force of his career.
The Brooker family loved their time in Connecticut and kindled lifelong friendships that burn bright to this day.
Jim brought the family back to Orillia in 1973 when he accepted a role with the sales team of Dorr-Oliver Canada. In 1974 he was promoted to Sales Manager of the Environmental Sales Division.
Jim made the move to a sales role at Eimco’s Water & Wastewater products team in 1987 and remained there until his retirement in 2004.
Thanks to his deep knowledge and impeccable reputation, Jim was able to launch B&B Process Equipment Sales and continued to serve the industry until very recently.
Jim was active in the Pollution Control Equipment Association of Ontario - now called the Water Environment Association of Ontario and served as both Director and President. In 2018, the Association recognized his lifetime achievements with the Geoffrey G.T. Scott Memorial Award.\
Family & friends are invited to meet for Visitation at the Mundell Funeral Home, 79 West St., N., Orillia, on Saturday, March 19th from 2 - 5 pm. Memorial Service to be held at St. Paul’s Centre, 62 Peter St., N., Orillia on Sunday, March 20, 2022 at 2 pm. For those unable to attend the service, please click on the following lick to watch the service via Live Stream. https://youtu.be/U9j3Ds3Lcdk
Reception to follow at the "Braestone Club". 3000 Line 11, Oro-Medonte, ON. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Soldier’s Memorial Hospital or RVH Foundation Cancer Center.