Odelia E. Brokamp

Odelia E. Brokamp,86, of Seneca, died Tuesday, January 18, 2005 at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca.
     She was born March 24, 1918, on a farm south of Seneca, the daughter of Joseph F. and Theresa Dalsing Ronnebaum. She grew up there, attended the Diamond School, Sts. Peter & Paul School, and helped on the family farm.
     On November 24, 1936, she married Edwin B. Brokamp at St. Bede’s Church at Kelly. After Edwin died in a tractor accident on April 26, 1960 at age 51, Odelia continued to live on the farm. She upholstered and refinished furniture, and did quilting. Later she bought and sold antiques. In the fall of 2001, she moved to Terrace Heights in Seneca. Due to her health, she entered Crestview Manor in 2003 and later was a resident at Life Care Center both in Seneca.
     She was a member of St. Bede’s Church at Kelly and the Altar Society at the church where she was very active, and also had served as Altar Society president. Odelia was a charter member of the Nemaha County Historical Society, served in several offices, helped renovate the historic county jail, and donated a lot of antiques to the Society. She was also a member of the Heritage Club in Seneca.
     Survivors are a son, Harold Brokamp, Corning; twin daughters, Janice Steinlage, Sabetha and Joyce Enneking, Seneca; a step-daughter, Mary Ann Henry, Seneca; twelve grandchildren; 3 step-grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren, 9 step-great-grandchildren, and a great-great-grandson.
     Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by three sisters, Bernardine Broxterman, Clara Mueting, and Pauline Levret; two brothers, Albert and Paul Ronnebaum; and a granddaughter, Kathy Steinlage, on February 26, 1974.
     Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 A.M. Thursday, January 20, 2005, at St. Bede’s Church at Kelly. Burial will be in the church cemetery. The rosary will be prayed Wednesday at 2 and 7 P.M. at the Lauer Funeral Home where she will lie in state after 8:30 A.M. Wednesday.
     Memorials may be given for the Nemaha County Historical Society or St. Bede’s Church and sent in care of the family.