Brian Joseph Folkers, 48, of Plainfield, Illinois, passed away peacefully at home on March 7, 2025. He was born on August 12, 1976, to Dennis and Barbara (Burgart) Folkers in Oelwein, Iowa.

A devoted husband, father, son, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend, Brian is survived by his loving wife, Judy (Conn) Folkers, whom he married on July 1, 2000. He leaves behind his three cherished children, Haylee, Jackson, and Jonathan. He is also survived by his parents, Dennis and Barbara (Burgart) Folkers and siblings, Tracy Davison (Damian Rudy), Toni Bixby, Michael Folkers, and Kelli (Mark) Riley; his sisters-in-law, Barb (Jeremy) Burkum and Joani Veenstra; as well as many beloved nieces, nephews, and extended family members. Brian was preceded in death by his father-in-law, Burton Conn, and his brothers-in-law, Jeff “Lumpy” Davison and Todd Bixby.

Brian graduated from Oelwein High School in 1994, where he worked at Fareway before accepting a job in Houston, Texas. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Meteorology from Iowa State University in 2003. Brian worked in Houston with a private aviation company until 2007, when he accepted a position with United Airlines. He remained a dedicated employee of United Airlines until his passing.

Brian had a deep passion for sports, cheering for his favorite teams—the Chicago Cubs, Dallas Cowboys, and Iowa Hawkeyes. He was known for his quick wit, love of fun facts, and ability to recall song lyrics at any moment. Above all, Brian treasured time spent with his children, always engaging in their interests.

• Haylee and Brian bonded over sushi buffets, trying new coffee spots, shopping at Trader Joe’s for seasonal finds, and their ongoing debates about UV exposure and tanning.
• Jackson shared midnight snacks and laughter with his dad, often sparked by a dumb joke before saying goodnight.
• Jonathan loved telling his dad everything he learned, from music and movies to school topics. The two also shared a special love for trading "dad jokes."

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 11, from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Beidelman-Kunsch Funeral Homes & Crematory in Naperville, Illinois. A second memorial visitation will take place on Thursday, March 13, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Geilenfeld-Buehner Funeral Home in Oelwein, Iowa.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, March 14, at 10:00 AM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Oelwein, Iowa.

Honorary Pallbearers:
Jackson Folkers, Jonathan Folkers, Michael Folkers, Tim Steele, and David Pattee.

"Here’s to the smartest man I know. I love you to the moon and back. May your body be at rest—you fought one hell of a fight."