Nora Agnes Brouhard

Nora Agnes Brouhard, second daughter of Jerome C and Lucinda Brouhard, was born  January 12, 1881, and departed this life May 9, 1938, being 57 years, 2 months and 27 days.

She was born, reared and died on a farm 2 miles west of Bloomfield which has been owned and operated by the Brouhard family for a period of 84 years. She received her education in the country school, Bloomfield High school and the Southern Iowa Normal. She grew to womanhood under an educational environment, her father being one of the leading teachers of the county at the time and the mother a student at the Troy Academy. She taught for a period of 2 years, but preferred to assist at home on the farm. Following the death of her father and mother, and with the help of the sisters, they have assumed the management and operation of the farm. This work has been her daily and hourly concern. She looked with seeing eyes on ripening harvests in the living sod and knew within her soul the quiet joy that comes of working hand in hand with God. Since her life has been spent in this vicinity, the events in her experience are well known to all. The community will long remember the loving care and tireless efforts of this good woman as she so tenderly and patiently cared for her invalid mother for a period of 10 years in their declining days. With her hands that did not tire of doing for others she ministered in helpful and unselfish ways to an extent that will not soon be forgotten. She was of a quiet, retiring and unassuming disposition. The gentle influence of her character and deeds will remain in the memory of all her acquaintance. This good woman's Christianity was intensely practical, being of the busy active side of life. But this is an open page in her life record, known and read by all who knew her. Like the virtuous woman in the Book of Proverbs, she kept her hands busy and her mind filled. She enjoyed her handiwork, her flowers, the orchard - she found contentment in carrying out Nature's laws. She was great because she was true in the humble tasks she found to do.

A cup of water timely brought, An offered easy chair, A turning of the window blind, That all may feel the air. An early flower unasked- bestowed, A light and cautious tread, A voice to softest whispers hushed to spare an aching head. Oh things like these- though little things, The purest love disclose.

Agnes was confined to her bed only a few weeks but had been in failing health for some time. In her desire to leave her work well done she gave generously of herself and there came back to her a wealth of deep appreciation. She is preceded in death by her father, mother and one sister, Ella, who died in infancy. She is survived by 3 sisters, Mrs Ada Tippett of Des Moines, Mrs Lulu Smith and Miss Anna Brouhard, both of Bloomfield, and 1 brother, Harley of Akron, Colorado; 1 niece, Helen Smith of Bloomfield and 2 nephews, Forest and Floyd Brouhard of Greely, Colorado, besides other relatives and many friends.  ---Grace Noll Crowell