Darrell A. Brookins, a longtime resident of Leesburg, passed away Monday, Oct. 23, 2017, in Fort Wayne’s Lutheran Hospital after a brief illness. He was 68 years old at the time of his death.
Born April 13, 1949, in Warsaw, Darrell was the son of Donas and Mary Bailey Brookins. He was a 1967 graduate of Milford High School.
Darrell was a sportsman and collector; he enjoyed fishing and hunting and collected everything from cast-iron skillets to Coleman lanterns. He had worked as shipping and receiving manager for Vitreous Steel for 28 years before founding Brooky’s Roofing.
He was a fan of early NASCAR and loved old cars and everything about them. He spent much of his youth working on cars, a passion that followed him into adulthood. He also enjoyed many annual trips to Florida, where he enjoyed the weather and the company of friends.
Although he didn’t know what was to come, Darrell’s life would change forever in the mid-1990s when he was introduced by a friend to Barbara “Bobbi” Freel. After standing her up twice, the two began dating. From that uneasy beginning blossomed a 21-year friendship and relationship as the pair fell in love.
In addition to Bobbi, who survives Darrell, are his two daughters, Amanda (Jason) Nichols, Leesburg, and Lorri Brookins, Montgomery; two stepsons, Korey Green (fiancée, Kari Foster), Leesburg, and Derik (Julie) Green, North Webster; 10 grandchildren: Hannah, Ally, Jordan, Jessica, Kaleb, Karson, Kaliope, Adalyn, Daylin and Braylin; four great-grandchildren; a brother, Dennis Brookins, Alexandria, Minn.; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, David Brookins; and an infant sister, Darlene Brookins.
The family will receive friends for visitation from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, in Titus Funeral Home, 2000 E. Sheridan St., Warsaw. A graveside funeral service will follow in Leesburg Cemetery.
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Memorials to the Animal Welfare League, P.O. Box 1906, Warsaw, IN 46581-1906; or to the family in care of Titus Funeral Home.
To sign the guestbook or send the family condolences, visit www.TitusFuneralHome.com.
