Laura Viola (Nelson) BROCKMAN

BROCKMAN, NELSON, HAUPTLEY, MITCHELL, WESSELS, WEBNER, FISHER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 9/8/2010 at 22:51:30

Tri-County Times, Story County, Iowa
June 25, 2009

June 12, 1916 -- June 15, 2009

Laura Brockman, 93, of Madrid and formerly of Slater, passed away Monday (June 15, 2009) at the Madrid Home.

Laura Viola Nelson Brockman was born in Wesley, Iowa, on June 12, 1916, to Nels Cornelius Nelson and Amanda Louise Hauptley Nelson. Seven years later on Easter, her dearest wish was fulfilled when baby sister Amy was born. Laura skipped two grades and graduated when she was 16, the first in her family to earn a high school diploma. She worked after school for the Wesley News World as a typesetter and a reporter.

On Nov. 24, 1937, she married Lloyd Brockman, moved to Britt and worked at the Krispy Shop as waitress and cook. During World War II, Laura worked for Bell Telephone as an operator. Due to the German POW camp near Algona, there were many international calls. In 1958, Laura was widowed with four children from 2-11 years of age. She remained in Corwith with her main focus on her children until all four children completed high school. She was the area's Raleigh and then Watkins dealer. She moved to Britt and then to Slater to be near her children when grandchildren were born. Laura taught Sunday school and was active in UMW all of her adult life. In 1996, she was the nominee for Woman of the Year from the Slater Unit of the American Legion Auxiliary. For over 20 years, she was an RSVP volunteer. Until a broken ankle slowed her down in 2003, she raised a garden every year. She enjoyed crossword puzzles, keeping up with local and national news, tatting, crocheting, quilting and conversing with her family and friends through letters, phone calls and personal visits.

Laura is survived by her children, Jerry (Debi) Brockman, of Broken Arrow, Okla.; Jan (David) Mitchell, of Boone; Jeff (Tracy) Brockman of Ruston, La.; and Jo (Dennis Fisher) of Dallas Center; and grandchildren, Kelli (Parrish) Wessels, Kristin Brockman, Andrew Mitchell, and Emily and Zoe Brockman. She was also blessed with two great-grandchildren, Nash and Nora Wessels. Her sister, Amy Webner, and numerous nieces and nephews will also mourn her death but celebrate her life.

Memorial services will be held at a later date. Memorials may be sent to the family of Laura Brockman, Box 269, Dallas Center, IA 50063. Arrangements by Sundberg-Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Madrid.