Donald Elroy Broeske

Broeske, Donald Elroy, 88, minister, schoolteacher, and longtime Orange County resident, died peacefully in the early morning hours of November 11, 2010, in Los Alamitos. The eldest of four children, Don was born in Mayville, WI. While attending Concordia Theological Seminary in Springfield, IL, Don met Ruth Stoltz of Rapid City, S.D.; shortly after their 1947 wedding he was ordained and installed into the ministry of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. For five and a half years, Don was pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church in Natoma, KS, as well as vacancy pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in nearby Russell, KS, where his three children were born. He helped found the First Lutheran Church of Plainville, KS, ministered in Alta Vista, KS, and followed the call to Fresno, CA, and then to dual parishes in Ely and Elko, NV. To meet the needs of two congregations 190 miles apart he became such a frequent flier that the press dubbed him "the flying minister." Seeking new horizons, Don returned to California in 1966, studied for a teaching credential and in 1968 began a fifteen-year career with the Garden Grove Unified School District, teaching at Rosita Elementary School in Santa Ana. Upon retirement he returned to the ministry, serving as associate pastor and, later, visitation pastor, for Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Cypress. When he retired in May 2001, he was presented with a plaque reading, "Thank you from all God's sheep you have led through the years . . . " For many years a resident of Garden Grove, Don and his wife Ruth later relocated to Leisure World in Seal Beach. Following Ruth's death in 2001, after more than 54 years of marriage, Don moved to Katella Senior Living in Los Alamitos. His home until his death, Katella Senior Living was where he met Norma Emry, his companion during his final years. Preceded in death by his younger brother, Clyde, and by his eldest son, Daniel, Don is survived by his sister, Dorothy "Dottie" Greunke; his brother, Marvin Broeske; his sister-in-law, Carmen Broeske; son, James Broeske and his wife Pat; daughter, Beverly Urquhart and her husband Don; daughter-in-law, Patsy Broeske, and by his grandchildren, David Urquhart, Kimberly Feil and Ian Broeske. A memorial service will be held on Friday, November 19, at 11 a.m. at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 4321 Cerritos Avenue, Cypress. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Holy Cross.