Gene Raymond Brodrecht
July 9, 1936 — June 1, 2023
Gene Raymond Brodrecht, 86, of Marion, Iowa, passed away peacefully at home on June 1, 2023. Visitation will be held from 5 until 7 p.m. on Tuesday June 13, 2023, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 3855 Katz Drive in Marion. Funeral Service will begin at 11 a.m. on Wednesday June 14, 2023, at the funeral home with an additional Visitation one hour prior to the funeral service. Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday June 15, 2023, at Greenwood Cemetery in Galena, Illinois.
Gene was born on July 9, 1936, in Galena, Illinois, the son of Delbert Brodrecht and Hilda Wieters Brodrecht (Cook Studier). Gene attended Galena High School and, in addition to his studies, played on the basketball team, worked at a local foundry and, for several years, at the Galena theater. He graduated as Class Valedictorian in 1955 from Galena High School and went on to attend Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois. On July 8, 1958, he was united in marriage to Sandra Jean White of Galena, in Dubuque, Iowa at the Presbyterian Church.
He began work at the Northwestern Bell Telephone Company in Dubuque, Iowa in 1955 and continued with the company through all its many changes, including the breakup of Ma Bell (becoming US West) and the numerous ever changing technological advancements, until his retirement in 1994. He began working as a lineman in various eastern Iowa locations and graduated to the business office in the early 1960's in the Cedar Rapids/Marion area. In 1964/65 he switched to working on the tech side of things, troubleshooting as a Central Office Technician in Cedar Rapids and Marion, and continued in that position for the remainder of his career. He spent the last years at the Marion office. Throughout the years he attended various schools around the country, as the technology was ever evolving. In addition, he was a very active member of the CWA union, serving as Local Chief Union Steward. He helped negotiate solutions, resolve grievances, and favorably aided many while in that position. He was also a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America.
Gene pursued many interests, from active outdoor ones, to the more thoughtful and quiet. He had an extensive library and read history, psychology, philosophy, religion, economics and more. As a newly married man, he had devoted himself to reading English and Russian classics while his socially active wife was occupied. In later years, when he was politically active, he wrote extensively, especially frequently to the editor about issues that mattered to him. He enjoyed discussing all these things and more, was a great conversationalist, a peacemaker, a diplomat, and, above all, a reflective listener. His own philosophy and thinking about many things changed in the late 80's/early 90's as he came back to his childhood faith in Jesus. He began attending Faith Bible Church (of Robins and later Cedar Rapids) with his wife and continued to do so until recent times when his health began to fail.
Starting in the 1960's, he made a concerted effort to improve his health by beginning what was to become a lifelong habit of running (active walking in recent years) and attention to healthful eating. He never wavered from these habits (or rarely, except for ice cream). For many years he made homemade yogurt and months’ worth of buckwheat pancakes to freeze for later use. His view of health and fitness became a large part of his family's perspective and practices, continuing with many to this day. From the earliest, Gene was an avid vegetable gardener and enjoyed yard work. He was meticulous in all his work even in removing dandelions by hand without chemicals. He had a large raspberry patch that provided a year’s worth of frozen berries.
Through the years, Gene took the children and grandchildren along with him as he enjoyed the outdoors and did many things just for their sake, which was his greatest joy after all. He was very involved with his children and grandchildren in sledding, hiking, swimming, pheasant hunting, fishing, gathering watercress, picking berries, bike riding and more. He routinely kept an eye out for used bicycles and maintained a garage full of all shapes and sizes for the grandchildren and great-grandchildren. It was quite a sight to see a dozen riding together. He and the Texas grandchildren especially enjoyed their long bike riding adventures when he would visit (to say nothing of all the game and card playing!). With his wife, he belonged to Bridge club and Pinochle club, for five decades, and enjoyed the never-ending family Euchre game as well. Gene and Sandra were jazz lovers and looked forward to their yearly attendance at the Bix Beiderbecke Festival in Davenport, Iowa. Being excellent dancers, it was an absolute pleasure and joy for all to watch them do the Jitterbug together. With his wife, he was actively involved in local party politics for many years and enjoyed attending numerous events. Together, they loved their travels around the country to see family and the sights.
But above all these things, Gene was truly a man who put his family first, from his wife, who was always number one, to his children, grandchildren, great, and great-great grandchildren, to whom he was devoted. He guided and watched over the affairs of his home, his finances, and his family in excellence and with exemplary love, concern, and providential care. His family were the focus of his attention and thoughts and for them he lived. Gene was devoted to loving all in his orbit, from family and in-laws to neighbors and friends. He was ever ready to give assistance in practical ways, but it was his listening ear, his warmth, his patience, kindness and consideration, his wit, wisdom, and genuine love that characterized all his interactions that most touched others. To all those who knew and loved him best, he was their mentor, advisor, counselor and, most of all, friend. In his simple, humble, quiet way, in his everyday life and in the things that matter most, Gene was a truly great man. We miss him sorely but wait in hope to join him at the resurrection of the dead when Christ comes back to make all things new.
Gene is survived and lovingly remembered by his wife of 64 years, Sandra; children, Monica Gleason of Marion, Lisa (Nathan) Bach of Marshall, Texas, James (Christine) Brodrecht of Marion, Grant (Kelli) Brodrecht of Winter Park, Florida; 20 grandchildren, Elizabeth (Paul) Smith of Iowa, Natalie (Michael) Prather of Texas, Elena (Nate) Murray of Texas, Isaac (Tabitha) Bach of Texas, Olivia (Mario) Ponce of Texas, Emily (Michael) Spencer of Texas, Elliot Bach of Texas, Samuel Bach of Texas, David (Jordyn) Bach of Texas, Naomi Bach of Texas, Elise Bach of Texas, Sophia Brodrecht of Texas, Levi Brodrecht of Iowa, Rose Brodrecht of Iowa, Lydia Brodrecht of Iowa, Sarah (Jordan) Stewart of Florida, Eli Brodrecht of Texas, Ethan (Grace) Brodrecht of Florida, Thomas (Juliet) Brodrecht of Florida, and Jarrett Brodrecht of Florida; 18 great-grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; one brother Le Roy (Marian) Cook of Freeport, Illinois; and many nephews, nieces, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his mother; father; brother, Melvin Brodrecht; granddaughter, Ruth Gleason; great-great granddaughter, Catalina Rodriguez; grandparents; great-grandparents; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Memorials in Gene’s name may be directed to the family to be designated later.
Gene was born on July 9, 1936, in Galena, Illinois, the son of Delbert Brodrecht and Hilda Wieters Brodrecht (Cook Studier). Gene attended Galena High School and, in addition to his studies, played on the basketball team, worked at a local foundry and, for several years, at the Galena theater. He graduated as Class Valedictorian in 1955 from Galena High School and went on to attend Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois. On July 8, 1958, he was united in marriage to Sandra Jean White of Galena, in Dubuque, Iowa at the Presbyterian Church.
He began work at the Northwestern Bell Telephone Company in Dubuque, Iowa in 1955 and continued with the company through all its many changes, including the breakup of Ma Bell (becoming US West) and the numerous ever changing technological advancements, until his retirement in 1994. He began working as a lineman in various eastern Iowa locations and graduated to the business office in the early 1960's in the Cedar Rapids/Marion area. In 1964/65 he switched to working on the tech side of things, troubleshooting as a Central Office Technician in Cedar Rapids and Marion, and continued in that position for the remainder of his career. He spent the last years at the Marion office. Throughout the years he attended various schools around the country, as the technology was ever evolving. In addition, he was a very active member of the CWA union, serving as Local Chief Union Steward. He helped negotiate solutions, resolve grievances, and favorably aided many while in that position. He was also a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America.
Gene pursued many interests, from active outdoor ones, to the more thoughtful and quiet. He had an extensive library and read history, psychology, philosophy, religion, economics and more. As a newly married man, he had devoted himself to reading English and Russian classics while his socially active wife was occupied. In later years, when he was politically active, he wrote extensively, especially frequently to the editor about issues that mattered to him. He enjoyed discussing all these things and more, was a great conversationalist, a peacemaker, a diplomat, and, above all, a reflective listener. His own philosophy and thinking about many things changed in the late 80's/early 90's as he came back to his childhood faith in Jesus. He began attending Faith Bible Church (of Robins and later Cedar Rapids) with his wife and continued to do so until recent times when his health began to fail.
Starting in the 1960's, he made a concerted effort to improve his health by beginning what was to become a lifelong habit of running (active walking in recent years) and attention to healthful eating. He never wavered from these habits (or rarely, except for ice cream). For many years he made homemade yogurt and months’ worth of buckwheat pancakes to freeze for later use. His view of health and fitness became a large part of his family's perspective and practices, continuing with many to this day. From the earliest, Gene was an avid vegetable gardener and enjoyed yard work. He was meticulous in all his work even in removing dandelions by hand without chemicals. He had a large raspberry patch that provided a year’s worth of frozen berries.
Through the years, Gene took the children and grandchildren along with him as he enjoyed the outdoors and did many things just for their sake, which was his greatest joy after all. He was very involved with his children and grandchildren in sledding, hiking, swimming, pheasant hunting, fishing, gathering watercress, picking berries, bike riding and more. He routinely kept an eye out for used bicycles and maintained a garage full of all shapes and sizes for the grandchildren and great-grandchildren. It was quite a sight to see a dozen riding together. He and the Texas grandchildren especially enjoyed their long bike riding adventures when he would visit (to say nothing of all the game and card playing!). With his wife, he belonged to Bridge club and Pinochle club, for five decades, and enjoyed the never-ending family Euchre game as well. Gene and Sandra were jazz lovers and looked forward to their yearly attendance at the Bix Beiderbecke Festival in Davenport, Iowa. Being excellent dancers, it was an absolute pleasure and joy for all to watch them do the Jitterbug together. With his wife, he was actively involved in local party politics for many years and enjoyed attending numerous events. Together, they loved their travels around the country to see family and the sights.
But above all these things, Gene was truly a man who put his family first, from his wife, who was always number one, to his children, grandchildren, great, and great-great grandchildren, to whom he was devoted. He guided and watched over the affairs of his home, his finances, and his family in excellence and with exemplary love, concern, and providential care. His family were the focus of his attention and thoughts and for them he lived. Gene was devoted to loving all in his orbit, from family and in-laws to neighbors and friends. He was ever ready to give assistance in practical ways, but it was his listening ear, his warmth, his patience, kindness and consideration, his wit, wisdom, and genuine love that characterized all his interactions that most touched others. To all those who knew and loved him best, he was their mentor, advisor, counselor and, most of all, friend. In his simple, humble, quiet way, in his everyday life and in the things that matter most, Gene was a truly great man. We miss him sorely but wait in hope to join him at the resurrection of the dead when Christ comes back to make all things new.
Gene is survived and lovingly remembered by his wife of 64 years, Sandra; children, Monica Gleason of Marion, Lisa (Nathan) Bach of Marshall, Texas, James (Christine) Brodrecht of Marion, Grant (Kelli) Brodrecht of Winter Park, Florida; 20 grandchildren, Elizabeth (Paul) Smith of Iowa, Natalie (Michael) Prather of Texas, Elena (Nate) Murray of Texas, Isaac (Tabitha) Bach of Texas, Olivia (Mario) Ponce of Texas, Emily (Michael) Spencer of Texas, Elliot Bach of Texas, Samuel Bach of Texas, David (Jordyn) Bach of Texas, Naomi Bach of Texas, Elise Bach of Texas, Sophia Brodrecht of Texas, Levi Brodrecht of Iowa, Rose Brodrecht of Iowa, Lydia Brodrecht of Iowa, Sarah (Jordan) Stewart of Florida, Eli Brodrecht of Texas, Ethan (Grace) Brodrecht of Florida, Thomas (Juliet) Brodrecht of Florida, and Jarrett Brodrecht of Florida; 18 great-grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; one brother Le Roy (Marian) Cook of Freeport, Illinois; and many nephews, nieces, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his mother; father; brother, Melvin Brodrecht; granddaughter, Ruth Gleason; great-great granddaughter, Catalina Rodriguez; grandparents; great-grandparents; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Memorials in Gene’s name may be directed to the family to be designated later.
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