Wayne Broecker, 89

Published 12:00 am Thursday, October 29, 2009

The funeral service for Wayne V. Broecker of Albert Lea will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Ascension Lutheran Church. The Rev. Mark Boorsma will officiate. Interment will be in Graceland Cemetery. Military honors will be accorded by Albert Lea veterans organizations. Visitation will be on Sunday from 12:30 p.m. until the service at the church.
Wayne died at his home at Hidden Creek Estates on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009. He was 89.
He was born in Scandia on June 21, 1920, to Henry and Dora (Swenson) Broecker. He was baptized and confirmed at the Elim Lutheran Church in Scandia. He attended rural schools the first eight years and graduated from Osceola (Wisconsin) High School in 1938. He was inducted into the U.S. Army on Jan. 23, 1942. He served in the Alaska Theater until December 1943. He returned to the states to serve in the Army Air Corps and the medical corps. On May 6th, 1943, while on furlough he was united in marriage to Donna Ford at Elim Lutheran Church in Scandia. He received his honorable discharge from service on Oct. 12, 1945. Following the war he farmed for five years before attending the University of Minnesota where he received his bachelor’s and master’s degree. He taught Vocational Agriculture in New Richland for 12 years. He went on to Jackson as assistant director of the Vocational School for four years and then moved to Albert Lea to become the first director of the New Vocational School (now Riverland College) where he retired after 17 years. Wayne, a member of Ascension Lutheran Church, was active in his community driving for ride services, taught 55 Alive, sang in the Legion CareyAires and was a sparkplug for the chamber Visitors Bureau.
Wayne was a member of the Kiwianis, where he had served as president, was former member of the Riverland Technical College Foundation, the Elks Club, and was a life member of the American Legion and V.F.W. He was a co-founder of the Senior Golf Club of Green Lea Golf Club. In 1984 Wayne received the Good Neighbor Award from WCCO radio. Throughout his life he enjoyed golfing, fishing, reading and traveling and especially appreciated time spent with family.
Wayne is survived by three daughters: Gloria (Keith) Martens of Waseca, Marlene (John) Ingebritson of New Ulm and Joyce (Dennis) Hummel of Sartell; six grandsons; 10 great-grandchildren; sisters: Ruby Johnson and Pearl Prostka; and brother, John Broecker.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Donna in 2005; and brothers: Glenn, Dean and Floyd.