L Brosius

L. Joanne Brosius, 79, of Decatur, IL, died 5:20 A.M., Monday, April 27, 2009, at her residence.Memorial services will be 5:00 P.M., Saturday, May 2, 2009, at First United Methodist Church, Decatur, IL. L. Joanne Brosius was born on June 15, 1929, the eldest child of Lea McCrossan and Beatrice Von Wald Perry. She spent her childhood years in Cable and Barron, Wisconsin, and later the family moved to Frederic, Wisconsin which became their permanent home.Joanne completed two years at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. She did not complete her studies there because that summer she and a college friend of hers made a trip to Santa Marta, Colombia to visit an aunt and uncle who resided there. Her uncle was her mothers brother, an agricultural engineer, who had become manager of that division of the United Fruit Company. While vacationing in Colombia she met and later married Otto C. Brosius, M.D. who was visiting his parents and was awaiting his first assignment as a regular Army Medical Corps Officer. They spent their first nine months together in Phoenixville, PA where Otto was assigned to Valley Forge General Hospital. The Korean War broke out and Otto was sent to Japan for a year while Joanne went to Frederic, Wisconsin where she resided with her parents.Later, army stations included three years in Denver, Colorado and three years in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Barbara Ann Brosius had been born in Denver on December 1, 1952 and accompanied them to San Juan. During the latter part of 1957 the family left army life and came to live in Decatur, IL where Otto joined Dr. Daulton Lee in the practice of pathology at what was then known as Decatur and Macon County Hospital. Roger Perry Brosius was born on December 2, 1958.Joanne was an active volunteer: The Fun Fair of the Decatur Hospitals, DMH Gift Shop, and Thrift Shop, Head Start and Meals on Wheels. She was a long-time member of the M.C.M.S. Auxiliary (now Alliance) and was its president in 1975.Joanne was a very loving wife and mother, and she greatly appreciated the good friends that she had. We will all miss her very much. She was preceded in death by her parents, her uncle Harlo Von Wald, her aunt Florence Danielson, her sister Nancy and her brother Richard. She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Otto, daughter Barbara Schwatka of San Diego, CA, son Roger Brosius and wife Edita of Las Vegas, NV, sister Florence and her husband James Wikstrom, her sister-in-law Eileen Perry, four nephews, two nieces, and grandnephews and grandnieces. The family suggests in lieu of flowers that memorial donations be made to First United Methodist Church or to either of Decaturs two hospitals.Our family also thanks the personnel at Decatur Memorial Hospital and Fair Havens Christian Home for the devoted and excellent care given to Joanne. And words cannot adequately express how valuable DMH Hospice was to us during Joannes last week.Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Home, Decatur, IL, is assisting the family with the arrangements.Condolences may be left to the family at www.brintlingerandearl.com "
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