Obituary from the Fairbanks Daily News Miner, Wednesday, April 22, 2009, page B-3:
Longtime Tok resident Charles A. Broker, 85, passed away at Providence Hospital on April 17, 2009.
Charlie was born on Nov. 6, 1923, in Ponsford, Minn., to Fred and Marie Broker, and was an enrollee of the White Earth Chippewa (Ojibwe) Indian tribe. He graduated from Haskell Institute in Kansas, joined the U.S. Navy and served on the USS Colorado and USS Gilbert Islands during World War II. After the war, Charlie met and married Leona Melmer. He graduated from Indiana State University as a professional engineer and worked in a number of states before settling in Topeka, Kan., where his children Geralyn and Kenneth were born. In 1962, Charlie accepted a position with the Alaska Department of Highways in Tok. During his 20-year tenure with the state, Charlie traveled to numerous communities around Alaska. He also found time to open Tok's first and only curling rink-cafe-car wash, LeCab which operated from 1971 to 1975. Charlie, son Kenny and other curler teammates enjoyed many memorable bonspiels, especially the ones at Beaver Creek, Yukon Territory.
In 1981, Charlie married Leoma Hall. She quickly became his "right-hand gal" assisting with numerous survey jobs around Tok and the rest of Alaska. Although working was Charlie's favorite hobby, occasionally Leoma was able to get him to "relax" and play bingo, put together jigsaw puzzles, attend various VFW conventions or venture to the Lower 48, where they enjoyed attending Naval reunions or gambling in Las Vegas. After Leoma's passing in 2002, he and several other Tokites traveled to Italy. Charlie and his "angels" really enjoyed the trip to Rome, where they saw the Vatican and Pope John Paul II. Other highlights of this excursion were to form a new friendship with a couple in Pennsylvania and reunite with his first girlfriend and several other childhood classmates in Lame Deer, Mont. Back in Tok, Charlie kept busy remodeling dwellings for his longtime tenants, Tanana Chiefs Conference. He also became a regular racer on "The Boob" in the Tired Iron Vintage Snowmachine events. Charlie was extremely excited with the arrival of Kenneth Layne, the first great-grandson on the Broker side of the family. His last trip Outside was to attend his grandson Tyler's wedding in Las Vegas in January 2009. Charlie was involved with numerous organizations in Tok including Lions Club, VFW Post 9889, Clinic Board, Volunteer Fire & Ambulance Departments, School Board, Native Association, Holy Rosary Catholic Church Advisory Board, Upper Tanana Senior Center Board, and the Tok and Tanacross Dog Musher Associations. Nationwide, he was enrolled in the Knights of Columbus and the American Legion.
It is appropriate that Charlie will be buried in the Tok Cemetery, as he and Judy Hanus were the founding members of the Cemetery Association that lobbied the state of Alaska and were granted the rights for the land.
Charlie was preceded in death by his second wife, Leoma (Hall) Broker; and his stepson, Charles Kelly Hall.
His children wrote, "Charlie B. has gone home to heaven," and his family stated, "Charlie was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend."
He is survived by his sister, Irene Broker; children and spouses, Geralyn (Allen) Curtis and Kenneth (Kelly) Broker; grandchildren, Kenneth Ryan (Devon, Kenneth Layne) Broker, and Tyler (Stephanie) Broker; stepsons, Alan (Petra) Hall and Calvin (Becky) Hall; stepdaughter-in-law, Linda Hall; step-grandchildren, Ryan (Jessica, Kiley, Kaassandra) Hall, Jason Hall, Marc Hall, Erica Hall, Kellie (Patrick, Cassidy, Connor) Dolan and Anthony (Holly) Hall; and first wife, Leona Broker. Those of us that were lucky enough to know him were blessed. He gave the shirt off his back to help and comfort others. He will be sorely missed but never, ever forgotten. We will always love Charlie.
In lieu of flowers, contributions are suggested to Tok Area EMTS, P.O. Box 811, Tok, AK 99780 and/or to Upper Tanana Aging Program (Senior Center), P.O. Box 459, Tok, AK 99780. A service will take place at 12:30 p.m., Saturday, April 25, at the Tok School Gym. Arrangements were by Evergreen Memorial Chapel.
Longtime Tok resident Charles A. Broker, 85, passed away at Providence Hospital on April 17, 2009.
Charlie was born on Nov. 6, 1923, in Ponsford, Minn., to Fred and Marie Broker, and was an enrollee of the White Earth Chippewa (Ojibwe) Indian tribe. He graduated from Haskell Institute in Kansas, joined the U.S. Navy and served on the USS Colorado and USS Gilbert Islands during World War II. After the war, Charlie met and married Leona Melmer. He graduated from Indiana State University as a professional engineer and worked in a number of states before settling in Topeka, Kan., where his children Geralyn and Kenneth were born. In 1962, Charlie accepted a position with the Alaska Department of Highways in Tok. During his 20-year tenure with the state, Charlie traveled to numerous communities around Alaska. He also found time to open Tok's first and only curling rink-cafe-car wash, LeCab which operated from 1971 to 1975. Charlie, son Kenny and other curler teammates enjoyed many memorable bonspiels, especially the ones at Beaver Creek, Yukon Territory.
In 1981, Charlie married Leoma Hall. She quickly became his "right-hand gal" assisting with numerous survey jobs around Tok and the rest of Alaska. Although working was Charlie's favorite hobby, occasionally Leoma was able to get him to "relax" and play bingo, put together jigsaw puzzles, attend various VFW conventions or venture to the Lower 48, where they enjoyed attending Naval reunions or gambling in Las Vegas. After Leoma's passing in 2002, he and several other Tokites traveled to Italy. Charlie and his "angels" really enjoyed the trip to Rome, where they saw the Vatican and Pope John Paul II. Other highlights of this excursion were to form a new friendship with a couple in Pennsylvania and reunite with his first girlfriend and several other childhood classmates in Lame Deer, Mont. Back in Tok, Charlie kept busy remodeling dwellings for his longtime tenants, Tanana Chiefs Conference. He also became a regular racer on "The Boob" in the Tired Iron Vintage Snowmachine events. Charlie was extremely excited with the arrival of Kenneth Layne, the first great-grandson on the Broker side of the family. His last trip Outside was to attend his grandson Tyler's wedding in Las Vegas in January 2009. Charlie was involved with numerous organizations in Tok including Lions Club, VFW Post 9889, Clinic Board, Volunteer Fire & Ambulance Departments, School Board, Native Association, Holy Rosary Catholic Church Advisory Board, Upper Tanana Senior Center Board, and the Tok and Tanacross Dog Musher Associations. Nationwide, he was enrolled in the Knights of Columbus and the American Legion.
It is appropriate that Charlie will be buried in the Tok Cemetery, as he and Judy Hanus were the founding members of the Cemetery Association that lobbied the state of Alaska and were granted the rights for the land.
Charlie was preceded in death by his second wife, Leoma (Hall) Broker; and his stepson, Charles Kelly Hall.
His children wrote, "Charlie B. has gone home to heaven," and his family stated, "Charlie was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend."
He is survived by his sister, Irene Broker; children and spouses, Geralyn (Allen) Curtis and Kenneth (Kelly) Broker; grandchildren, Kenneth Ryan (Devon, Kenneth Layne) Broker, and Tyler (Stephanie) Broker; stepsons, Alan (Petra) Hall and Calvin (Becky) Hall; stepdaughter-in-law, Linda Hall; step-grandchildren, Ryan (Jessica, Kiley, Kaassandra) Hall, Jason Hall, Marc Hall, Erica Hall, Kellie (Patrick, Cassidy, Connor) Dolan and Anthony (Holly) Hall; and first wife, Leona Broker. Those of us that were lucky enough to know him were blessed. He gave the shirt off his back to help and comfort others. He will be sorely missed but never, ever forgotten. We will always love Charlie.
In lieu of flowers, contributions are suggested to Tok Area EMTS, P.O. Box 811, Tok, AK 99780 and/or to Upper Tanana Aging Program (Senior Center), P.O. Box 459, Tok, AK 99780. A service will take place at 12:30 p.m., Saturday, April 25, at the Tok School Gym. Arrangements were by Evergreen Memorial Chapel.
Obituary from the Fairbanks Daily News Miner, Wednesday, April 22, 2009, page B-3:
Longtime Tok resident Charles A. Broker, 85, passed away at Providence Hospital on April 17, 2009.
Charlie was born on Nov. 6, 1923, in Ponsford, Minn., to Fred and Marie Broker, and was an enrollee of the White Earth Chippewa (Ojibwe) Indian tribe. He graduated from Haskell Institute in Kansas, joined the U.S. Navy and served on the USS Colorado and USS Gilbert Islands during World War II. After the war, Charlie met and married Leona Melmer. He graduated from Indiana State University as a professional engineer and worked in a number of states before settling in Topeka, Kan., where his children Geralyn and Kenneth were born. In 1962, Charlie accepted a position with the Alaska Department of Highways in Tok. During his 20-year tenure with the state, Charlie traveled to numerous communities around Alaska. He also found time to open Tok's first and only curling rink-cafe-car wash, LeCab which operated from 1971 to 1975. Charlie, son Kenny and other curler teammates enjoyed many memorable bonspiels, especially the ones at Beaver Creek, Yukon Territory.
In 1981, Charlie married Leoma Hall. She quickly became his "right-hand gal" assisting with numerous survey jobs around Tok and the rest of Alaska. Although working was Charlie's favorite hobby, occasionally Leoma was able to get him to "relax" and play bingo, put together jigsaw puzzles, attend various VFW conventions or venture to the Lower 48, where they enjoyed attending Naval reunions or gambling in Las Vegas. After Leoma's passing in 2002, he and several other Tokites traveled to Italy. Charlie and his "angels" really enjoyed the trip to Rome, where they saw the Vatican and Pope John Paul II. Other highlights of this excursion were to form a new friendship with a couple in Pennsylvania and reunite with his first girlfriend and several other childhood classmates in Lame Deer, Mont. Back in Tok, Charlie kept busy remodeling dwellings for his longtime tenants, Tanana Chiefs Conference. He also became a regular racer on "The Boob" in the Tired Iron Vintage Snowmachine events. Charlie was extremely excited with the arrival of Kenneth Layne, the first great-grandson on the Broker side of the family. His last trip Outside was to attend his grandson Tyler's wedding in Las Vegas in January 2009. Charlie was involved with numerous organizations in Tok including Lions Club, VFW Post 9889, Clinic Board, Volunteer Fire & Ambulance Departments, School Board, Native Association, Holy Rosary Catholic Church Advisory Board, Upper Tanana Senior Center Board, and the Tok and Tanacross Dog Musher Associations. Nationwide, he was enrolled in the Knights of Columbus and the American Legion.
It is appropriate that Charlie will be buried in the Tok Cemetery, as he and Judy Hanus were the founding members of the Cemetery Association that lobbied the state of Alaska and were granted the rights for the land.
Charlie was preceded in death by his second wife, Leoma (Hall) Broker; and his stepson, Charles Kelly Hall.
His children wrote, "Charlie B. has gone home to heaven," and his family stated, "Charlie was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend."
He is survived by his sister, Irene Broker; children and spouses, Geralyn (Allen) Curtis and Kenneth (Kelly) Broker; grandchildren, Kenneth Ryan (Devon, Kenneth Layne) Broker, and Tyler (Stephanie) Broker; stepsons, Alan (Petra) Hall and Calvin (Becky) Hall; stepdaughter-in-law, Linda Hall; step-grandchildren, Ryan (Jessica, Kiley, Kaassandra) Hall, Jason Hall, Marc Hall, Erica Hall, Kellie (Patrick, Cassidy, Connor) Dolan and Anthony (Holly) Hall; and first wife, Leona Broker. Those of us that were lucky enough to know him were blessed. He gave the shirt off his back to help and comfort others. He will be sorely missed but never, ever forgotten. We will always love Charlie.
In lieu of flowers, contributions are suggested to Tok Area EMTS, P.O. Box 811, Tok, AK 99780 and/or to Upper Tanana Aging Program (Senior Center), P.O. Box 459, Tok, AK 99780. A service will take place at 12:30 p.m., Saturday, April 25, at the Tok School Gym. Arrangements were by Evergreen Memorial Chapel.
Longtime Tok resident Charles A. Broker, 85, passed away at Providence Hospital on April 17, 2009.
Charlie was born on Nov. 6, 1923, in Ponsford, Minn., to Fred and Marie Broker, and was an enrollee of the White Earth Chippewa (Ojibwe) Indian tribe. He graduated from Haskell Institute in Kansas, joined the U.S. Navy and served on the USS Colorado and USS Gilbert Islands during World War II. After the war, Charlie met and married Leona Melmer. He graduated from Indiana State University as a professional engineer and worked in a number of states before settling in Topeka, Kan., where his children Geralyn and Kenneth were born. In 1962, Charlie accepted a position with the Alaska Department of Highways in Tok. During his 20-year tenure with the state, Charlie traveled to numerous communities around Alaska. He also found time to open Tok's first and only curling rink-cafe-car wash, LeCab which operated from 1971 to 1975. Charlie, son Kenny and other curler teammates enjoyed many memorable bonspiels, especially the ones at Beaver Creek, Yukon Territory.
In 1981, Charlie married Leoma Hall. She quickly became his "right-hand gal" assisting with numerous survey jobs around Tok and the rest of Alaska. Although working was Charlie's favorite hobby, occasionally Leoma was able to get him to "relax" and play bingo, put together jigsaw puzzles, attend various VFW conventions or venture to the Lower 48, where they enjoyed attending Naval reunions or gambling in Las Vegas. After Leoma's passing in 2002, he and several other Tokites traveled to Italy. Charlie and his "angels" really enjoyed the trip to Rome, where they saw the Vatican and Pope John Paul II. Other highlights of this excursion were to form a new friendship with a couple in Pennsylvania and reunite with his first girlfriend and several other childhood classmates in Lame Deer, Mont. Back in Tok, Charlie kept busy remodeling dwellings for his longtime tenants, Tanana Chiefs Conference. He also became a regular racer on "The Boob" in the Tired Iron Vintage Snowmachine events. Charlie was extremely excited with the arrival of Kenneth Layne, the first great-grandson on the Broker side of the family. His last trip Outside was to attend his grandson Tyler's wedding in Las Vegas in January 2009. Charlie was involved with numerous organizations in Tok including Lions Club, VFW Post 9889, Clinic Board, Volunteer Fire & Ambulance Departments, School Board, Native Association, Holy Rosary Catholic Church Advisory Board, Upper Tanana Senior Center Board, and the Tok and Tanacross Dog Musher Associations. Nationwide, he was enrolled in the Knights of Columbus and the American Legion.
It is appropriate that Charlie will be buried in the Tok Cemetery, as he and Judy Hanus were the founding members of the Cemetery Association that lobbied the state of Alaska and were granted the rights for the land.
Charlie was preceded in death by his second wife, Leoma (Hall) Broker; and his stepson, Charles Kelly Hall.
His children wrote, "Charlie B. has gone home to heaven," and his family stated, "Charlie was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend."
He is survived by his sister, Irene Broker; children and spouses, Geralyn (Allen) Curtis and Kenneth (Kelly) Broker; grandchildren, Kenneth Ryan (Devon, Kenneth Layne) Broker, and Tyler (Stephanie) Broker; stepsons, Alan (Petra) Hall and Calvin (Becky) Hall; stepdaughter-in-law, Linda Hall; step-grandchildren, Ryan (Jessica, Kiley, Kaassandra) Hall, Jason Hall, Marc Hall, Erica Hall, Kellie (Patrick, Cassidy, Connor) Dolan and Anthony (Holly) Hall; and first wife, Leona Broker. Those of us that were lucky enough to know him were blessed. He gave the shirt off his back to help and comfort others. He will be sorely missed but never, ever forgotten. We will always love Charlie.
In lieu of flowers, contributions are suggested to Tok Area EMTS, P.O. Box 811, Tok, AK 99780 and/or to Upper Tanana Aging Program (Senior Center), P.O. Box 459, Tok, AK 99780. A service will take place at 12:30 p.m., Saturday, April 25, at the Tok School Gym. Arrangements were by Evergreen Memorial Chapel.
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