Polly Brooks

Memorial services for Polly Brooks, age 75, of Norfolk, will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, November 19, 2025, at Trinity Episcopal Church in Norfolk. Reverend Peter Jark-Swain and Reverend Deacon D. Gordon Braun will officiate, with inurnment in Trinity Episcopal Columbarium.
Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.
Brockhaus-Howser-Fillmer Funeral Home in Norfolk is in charge of arrangements.
Polly Ann (Pokorney) Brooks passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 13, 2025, surrounded by those who cherished her most. A woman of deep faith, sharp wit, and boundless devotion, Polly lived her life with the perfect blend of grace and grit, a true spitfire whose warmth and laughter will be missed beyond measure.
Born on January 21, 1950, in Grand Island, Polly graduated from Northwest High School in 1968 and went on to earn her cosmetology license from Grand Island Beauty College. She built a career as a hairstylist, sharing her creativity and love for helping others feel their best.
It was at the quarter horse races in Hastings where fate introduced Polly to the love of her life, Brad Brooks. The two were united in marriage on April 30, 1983, beginning a 42-year journey filled with laughter, travel, and enduring companionship. For their honeymoon, they traveled to Hawaii — the first of many adventures together. Over the years, Polly and Brad explored the world, from the bright lights of Sydney to the ancient wonders of Beijing and the rhythm of Rio de Janeiro.
Polly’s proudest accomplishments, however, were not measured in miles or medals, but in the love she poured into her family. She adored watching her twin sons, Todd and Troy, run track and play soccer, cheering them on with the enthusiasm only a mother could bring. Once the nest was empty, Polly and Brad welcomed their beloved “third child,” their dog Diesel — her four-legged baby who held a special place in her heart.
A true Nebraskan at heart, Polly bled Husker red and cheered passionately for the New York Yankees, loyalties born from the excitement her family shared for the game. She could often be found with a bowl of buttered popcorn, a stick of chewing gum, a spritz of her favorite Clinique Aromatics Elixir, and her trusty hair pick comb always within reach.
Polly found great joy in life’s simple pleasures: her beloved soap operas (especially The Young and the Restless), the thrill of the horse races, and Saturday evenings spent in worship at Trinity Episcopal Church. Her faith was a cornerstone of her life, and she was a devoted member of the Altar Guild.
In 2003, Polly was given a second lease on life through the selfless gift of a kidney donor, a miracle she honored through her gratitude, faith, and unwavering zest for life.
She is survived by her loving husband of 42 years, Brad Brooks; her twin sons, Todd (Lacey) Brooks of Stanton and Troy Brooks of Battle Creek; her sister, Nancy Nelson of Papillion; and her sister-in-law, Beth Ann Brooks of Lincoln.
Polly was preceded in death by her parents, Rudolph “Rudy” and Doris (Shupp) Pokorney; her brother, William (Bill) Pokorney; parents-in-law, Orval and Doris (Wilson) Brooks; and her loyal fur son, Diesel.
Polly will be remembered for her fiery spirit, her quick humor, her faith-filled heart, and the way she made every room brighter just by being in it.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial donations be made to the American Kidney Association, in gratitude for the gift of life Polly received and the hope it continues to bring to others.