Kenneth Lynn Westbrook
July 29, 1926 – April 19, 2017
Kenneth Lynn Westbrook, the "Captain," as he preferred to be called was born July 29, 1926 in Kahoka, Missouri to Bernie and Margaret (Barrows) Westbrook.
He left his home in Lancaster in 1944 at age 17 before completing high school and joined the Merchant Marines during WW2. He was discharged from the Coast Guard at the end of the war, but remained with the Merchant Marines working his way up the ladder to the rank of Captain and would have been up for Admiral in about 3 months, but an unfortunate accident which almost cost him his life ended his career. Due to his extensive injuries he was forced to take an early disability retirement in 1984 and returned to his home town of Lancaster to retire. He built his retirement home in Lancaster and lived in it until May 2013 when due to declining health he had to move into an Adult Care Center, first being located in Kirksville and later moving to a Care Facility in Kahoka.
Captain was a dedicated supporter of the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution and believed in the right of citizens to keep and bear arms. He was a lifetime member of the NRA and North American Hunting Club and other hunting organizations. He had a room in his basement set up for reloading his own ammunition for the many guns he proudly owned. He studied books and manuals on the latest statistics on reloading methods and measurements while methodically recording his own test results from his experiences.
He was a Freemason of Jacques de Molay Grand Lodge of Louisiana, Life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Jerusalem Shiners, Caldwell Chapter No 53 RAM Kirksville, Missouri Royal Arch Mason, Kirksville Council No 44 R&SM Cryptic Mason, Scottish Rite of Freemasonry and 32* Valley of St. Louis Orient of Missouri.
Captain had a passion for hats evidenced by his collection of hats which he displayed on shelves in his basement. He was a scuba diver and early in his career had done some diving with Jacques Cousteau. He said he had a choice of taking a camera when he was diving or taking a spear for protection and he wished he had taken the camera more often. One of his many interests was photography and he especially liked taking pictures of wildlife and had an interest in underwater photography. He enjoyed hunting whether it was with one of his guns or with his camera.
He had an extensive collection of books on war histories. His library included books starting with Roman Wars and continuing through present day wars. He felt like he had the best library of war history books this side of the Mississippi (his words) and he prided himself on his knowledge of the wars and military involvement in them. He enjoyed discussing the wars and books with anyone he could engage in conversation about them. He had volumes of books on any interest or hobbies that he had whether it was cooking, guns, wine making, war, health, or other miscellaneous interests. He surrounded himself with books in every room of his house. Another of his hobbies was making wine and experimenting with different varieties and flavors. He gave up using his hot tub because he said it would make too much humidity for his wine processing. He had a love of music and owned a large musical library with stereo systems and speakers throughout his home.
He never married because his bride was the sea and his family the ships he sailed on. He said the ship was always there beckoning to him and on land he was nothing and on the ship he was God. He traveled all over the world to many ports and countries and was involved in all wars from WW2 until the time of his retirement. He lived a full and exciting life during his career. After his forced retirement he never ceased to long for the lifestyle he lost. The sea was the salt in his blood and the rules he lived by he called "Westbrook Law".
He was preceded in death by his parents and by his sister, Iris "Jean" White. He is survived by a nephew, Rick White of Agency, Iowa and a niece, Karen Jarvis of Fairfield, Iowa and great nieces and nephews.
Masonic services will be conducted by the Glenwood Masonic Lodge AF & AM #427 on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at the Norman Funeral Home in Lancaster, Missouri. A musical CD selection of "My Way" will be performed following the masonic services. Pallbearers will be Rick White, James White, Heather Atkinson, Slade Atkinson, Jesse Jarvis and Levi Jarvis. Honorary pallbearers will be Boscoe Roberts and Ed Snowbarger. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the Masonic services from 1:00 until 2:00 p.m. at the Norman Funeral Home in Lancaster, Missouri. Memorials have been established for the Arni Memorial Cemetery, Schuyler County Historical Society or Sam & Daisy Grabb Animal Shelter. Burial will be in the Arni Memorial Cemetery with military rites by the Schuyler County American Legion Post 0784. Online condolences may be expressed to the family by logging on to normanfh.com. Arrangements are under the direction of the Norman Funeral Home of Lancaster, Missouri.