Theodore Henry Brokaw

On the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009, Canton resident Theodore Henry Brokaw, 90, passed away quietly at Troy Community Hospital after a brief illness.

Known to everyone as Ted, he was born in Somerville, N.J., on May 10, 1919, the son of John and Jessie (Streng) Brokaw. He was a graduate of Somerville High School. Ted proudly served our country during the Second World War as a member of the 83rd Bomber Squadron, U.S. Army Air Corps, serving in Burma and India. On June 14, 1947, he married the former Helen Vliet and together they raised six children and shared 62 years.

Ted was employed as a milk pasteurizer for Raritan Valley Farms for many years. In 1967, the Brokaws left the Garden State for the mountains of Pennsylvania, settling in the Canton area. Ted worked for a brief time at the Liberty Dairy, and the following year took a position as custodian with the Canton Area School District, retiring in 1981.

Ted became well-known and well-liked in his adopted community. He was always there for you, with his friendly smile and cheerful conversation. Not one to mince words, Ted would always tell it like it was. He was a life member of the Canton VFW Post No. 714 where he was a past commander, and a member of the Canton American Legion Post No. 303. He was active in the Canton Senior Citizens Club and volunteered at the senior center with the Meals on Wheels program. Ted was a family-oriented man who took great interest in the achievements of his children, always accompanying them whenever they showed livestock. Ted was also a man of great faith in the Lord, and was a faithful member of the Church of Christ (Disciples of Christ) in Canton.

He is survived by: his wife, Helen, at home; son Harry (and Barbara Rae) Brokaw of Grover; daughters Melinda (and James) Pulley of Richmond, Va., Sharon (and Phillip) Kithcart of Athens, Barbara Ruth (and William) Mills of Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., Judy Brokaw and Kathy (and David) Reamer, all of Holton, Kan.; his sister Doris VandeVoort of Pella, Iowa; 17 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Jessie Brokaw, and son-in-law Steven R. Sheeley.

Calling hours will be 6-8 p.m. Thursday at Morse & Kleese Funeral Home, 40 N. Center St., Canton. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday with Rev. Bonnie Browning of the Church of Christ (Disciples) of Canton officiating, assisted by the Rev. David Morris. Interment will follow in LeRoy Cemetery.