Eugenia Mae "Jean" Brockway, 87, of Grundy Center, Iowa, died of natural causes, March 27, 2005 at the Grundy County Memorial Hospital in Grundy Center. Funeral services will be at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, April 1, 2005 at the First Baptist Church in Grundy Center with Pastor Michael Nemmers and J.C. Ford officiating. Burial will follow at the Rose Hill Cemetery in Grundy Center, Iowa. Visitation will be held Thursday, March 31, 2005, from 4:00 to 8:00 PM at Engelkes-Abels Funeral Home in Grundy Center. A memorial fund has been established.
Jean was born on August 31, 1917, in Lake Charles LA, the daughter of Edwin Irving and Hazel Elaine (Stedman) Steadman. She graduated from Lake Charles High School in 1934. On April 4, 1936 she was united in marriage to W. Bruce Brockway in Lake Charles, LA. The couple lived in Lake Charles, LA for 5 years, then moved to Grundy Center, IA, later to Chicago, IL for 3 years and then back to Grundy Center, IA, where they owned and operated Brockway Plumbing and Heating, and Jean worked as the bookkeeper. Jean was a member of the First Baptist Church in Grundy Center, IA, the Grundy Center Women's Club, and the American Legion Auxiliary.
She is survived by her 8 children: Elsie Jean (Everett) Wilson of Grundy Center, IA, Willard Bruce "Bill" Brockway of Normandy Park, WA, Dianne Ruth (J) Abels of Papillion, NE, Bette Sue (Dr. David) Ota of Milwaukee, WI, Linda Marie (Rev. Delmar) Meester of Chicago Heights, IL, Beth Elaine (Roger) Bockes of Grundy Center, IA, Cheryl Dee (Stephen) Ford of Brussels, Belgium, and Edwin Eugene "Buddy" (Pam) Brockway of Washington, IL; 16 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren; a sister: Hazel E. (Charles) Nix of Alexandria, LA; 2 brothers: Wayne H. (Delores) Steadman of Cotile Lake, LA, and Warren W. (Eloise) Steadman of Pineville, LA.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband: W. Bruce; a daughter-in-law: Jeanne M. Brockway; a sister: Elizabeth G. Lohman of Baton Route, LA; and a brother: Edwin S. Steadman of Shreveport, LA.