BROCKA, Helen 1915-2007

BROCKA, HEMPEN

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/6/2010 at 21:01:28

Helen J. Brocka, age 92, of Des Moines, Iowa (formerly of Parkersburg, Iowa) was born the daughter of Herman and Trena Hempen on December 17, 1915, in rural Grundy County, near Stout, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed as a child. She graduated from Parkersburg High School in 1933. Following graduation she attended Iowa Normal School and received a certificate to teaching country school. She taught country school at Beaver #1 for several years.

On February 29, 1936, Helen was united in marriage with Otto Brocka at the First Methodist Church in Waterloo, Iowa. They made their home and farmed for over 30 years in Butler and Grundy Counties. In 1977, they moved to Parkersburg. Following the death of her husband, Helen resided in Parkersburg for a few years and then moved to the Cedars in Madrid, Iowa. Later she moved to the Iowa Jewish Senior Life Center in Des Moines, Iowa.

Helen was a member of the Bethel Lutheran Church in Parkersburg where she was active in church circles. She enjoyed square dancing, traveling, sewing and her family.

On Wednesday, July 30, 2008, Helen died at the Iowa Jewish Senior Life Center in Des Moines, Iowa, from kidney failure. She had reached the age of 92 years, 7 months and 13 days. Helen is preceded in death by her husband, Otto, her son, Kenneth Brocka, her parents, one sister, and three brothers.

Helen is survived by one daughter, Joyce Knock and her husband, Dave, of Des Moines; two granddaughters, Cari of Des Moines and Jennifer (Trent) Dunlop, of Appleton, Wisconsin; one great-grandson, Levi Knock, Des Moines; sister-in-law, Dorothy Hempen, Parkersburg, Iowa and brother-in-law, Card Heller, Cottonwood, California.

Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m., Friday at Redman-Schwartz Funeral Home, Parkersburg and one hour before services at the church.

Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m., Saturday at the Bethel Lutheran Church, with burial in Oak Hill Cemetery, both in Parkersburg.

Memorials may be directed to the family in memory of Helen Brocka.

Grundy Obituaries maintained by Tammy D. Mount.
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