Obituaries from the Bowdle (SD) Pioneer

His funeral was Wednesday, Dec. 15, at the Selby United Methodist Church with Pastor Randy Jellison-Knock and Pastor Sandra Jellison-Knock officiating.

Burial followed at Selby Memorial Gardens Cemetery with Miller Funeral Home of Bowdle in charge of the arrangement.

Emil Brockel was born at rural Campbell County, Jan. 16, 1913, to John and Frederika (Roesler) Brockel Sr. He attended country school in Campbell County.

He married Clara Berg April 28, 1934 at Selby. They farmed in rural Walworth County until 1945. Then they owned the Brockel Hotel & Cafe in Bowdle until moving to Selby in 1949 where he was the Standard Oil bulk fuel manager.

He was then employed as a parts man for Stulken Implement and Thorstenson Implement, both in Selby. After that he worked at Holzworth's in Mobridge and at Mobridge Iron Works before he started in the insurance business with Fritz Simons in Selby. Later he had his own agency in Selby until selling it to Don Marin in 1977. He continued to sell hail insurance for the Marin Agency for a few years after retiring.

He and his wife had made their home in Selby until moving to Mobridge in 1961. He was active in the Selby United Methodist Church and later the Mobridge United Methodist Church. He sang in the choir and in the cantatas, taught Sunday School and confirmation classes and counseled MYF groups for many years. He also served as an usher and was active in the Methodist Men's groups.

He was a member of the Selby Masonic Lodge and the Mobridge Senior Center. He enjoyed reading and watching baseball, but especially enjoyed working with and being around people, which he did most of his life.

He is survived by his two daughter: Mrs. Verne (Marcella) Zabel and Mrs. Dale (Shirlee) Burnette of Selby; three brothers: Henry Brockel of Mobridge; Elmer Brockel of rural Selby; and Leo Brockel of Mound City; three sisters: Alma Nusz of rural Woodland, CA; Ella Bossert of Paradise, CA; and Rose Brockel of Glasgow, MT; eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

he was preceded in death by his parents, his wife on Dec. 9, 1988, two sisters and four brothers.

Pallbearers were Carroll Brockel, Dale Mayer and Harley Brockel of Selby; Ken Brockel and Larry Thies of Java; and Alvin Sieler of Jamestown, ND.

Honorary pallbearers were Emil Twete of Mobridge and Don Brockel of Selby.

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