Oral R. Broeker, Sr.

Funeral Services for Oral R. Broeker Sr. will be conducted from the United Methodist Church in Oxford, Nebraska on Tuesday, April 29, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Kirk Einspahr, officiating. Interment will be in the Carter Cemetery in Harlan County, Nebraska.

Oral Ralph Broeker Sr., 86 years of age, of Beaver City, Nebraska (formerly of Edison, Nebraska) passed away on Friday, April 25, 2008 at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Nebraska. Oral was born August 28, 1921 on the family farm northwest of Orleans in Harlan County, the eldest of eleven children of Carl Otto and Clara Louise (Hoppe) Broeker. He received his primary education from the Carter School in Harlan County and graduated from Orleans High School with the class of 1939. Following his education, Oral was inducted into the United States Army and served his country in the 10th Mountain Division as a Staff Sergeant during WW II from 1942 until his honorable discharge in 1946.

Oral engaged in farming and was also involved with his dairy operation his entire career in the Oxford and Edison area. He also drove truck for Oxford Cheese for fourteen years. While in Oxford, he met Pearl Marie Caywood and the couple were united in marriage on December 13, 1943. To this union five sons and one daughter were born: Roger, Marlys, Tracy, Oral Ralph, Alan and Bryan. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. On April 3, 2001 he was preceded in death by his wife, Pearl. In the fall of 2002, Oral made his home in Beaver City, where he continued to reside at the time of his passing.

Oral was a member of the Edison Christian Church, was a 4-H Leader for over twenty years and was a longtime member of the V.F.W. Post #8146 and American Legion Post # 343 in Edison . He enjoyed woodworking as a past time and was proud to share his talents with many friends and all the women in the family, making them a cedar chest as a family heirloom.

He leaves to mourn his passing his six children: Roger Broeker and his wife, Elizabeth of Maywood, Nebraska, Marlys Baxter and her husband, Warren of Orleans, Tracy Broeker and his wife, Susan of Beaver City, Oral "Ralph" Broeker Jr. and his wife, Gloria of Holdrege, Alan Broeker and his wife, Valerie of Milford, Nebraska and Bryan Broeker and his wife, Lisa of Victor, New York; sixteen grandchildren; seven step-grandchildren; twenty-one great-grandchildren; nine step great-grandchildren; one brother, Wallace Broeker and his wife, Ortha of Orleans; six sisters: Marjorie Dyas and her husband, Dick of Oxford, Berniece McQuiston of Oxford, Phyllis Thulin of Oxford, Ardis Proctor and her husband, Carl of Oxford, Carla Freeburg and her husband, Laval of Holdrege and Janice Maaske and her husband, Darrel of Loomis, Nebraska; two sisters-in-law: LoRee Broeker of Oxford and Donna Dallman and her husband, Myron of Macon, Nebraska; special friend, Evelyn Keezer of Beaver City and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Besides his wife, Oral was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers: Kenneth "Bud" Broeker and Robert Broeker; one sister, Louise Broeker in infancy; five brothers-in-law: Stanley Langenberg, Harold Brown Jr., Milton Thulin, Doug York and Rolland McQuiston.

Oral will lie in state at the Mitchell-Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Oxford on Monday, April 28, 2008 from 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting friends from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

A memorial has been established in his memory.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Mitchell-Nelson-Bauer
Funeral Home in Oxford is in charge of the arrangements.