Phyllis Brokaw

Phyllis Brokaw, 90 of Corning, Iowa entered eternal rest Monday, November 20, 2023 at Heritage House in Atlantic, Iowa surrounded by her loving family.  Services will be 11:00 AM, Saturday, November 25, 2023 at the First Presbyterian Church in Corning with Pastor Jessica Paulsen officiating.  Open visitation will be 3 – 7 PM, Friday, November 24, 2023 at Pearson Family Funeral Service & Cremation Center in Corning.  Family will receive friends 9:30 – 10:30 AM, Saturday at the church.  Phyllis will be laid to rest in the Walnut Grove Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be directed to the First Presbyterian Church &/or the American Cancer Society.  Memories and condolences may be shared online at www.pearsonfuneralhomes.com.

Phyllis Lee Brokaw was born in Creston, Iowa on June 14, 1933, the daughter of Dean Carlos and Ruth Estella (Townsend) Driskill.  Phyllis was educated in the Corning public schools and graduated Corning High School.  On September 10, 1950, Phyllis was united in marriage to Stanley Lee Brokaw at the Corning United Methodist Church.  Three children were born to bless their marriage:  Randall “Chet”, David and Lynn.  Phyllis began a career in Bookkeeping in 1965, when she worked as the Office Manager for Westgate Housing.  Westgate was in the planning stages at the beginning of her employment and she continued, after the complex was built, for many years.  Phyllis later became the Bookkeeper for the Corning Municipal utilities until her retirement in 1995 at age 62.  Following retirement, Phyllis lived in Corning until 2014 when she moved to Vintage Park in Lenox, Iowa.  She has resided at Heritage House in Atlantic since January, 2019.  Phyllis will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Phyllis was an avid reader. She was rarely without a book to fill an available idle moment. She was also an accomplished seamstress. She made everything from doll clothes to a wedding dress often without the need for a pattern. In later years she took up quilting until her eyesight failed. Her other favorite pastimes were gardening and travel. After retirement, Phyllis and Stan traveled the United States together and loved to explore the national parks. After her husband of 55 years passed, she took many group tour vacations with friends. Phyllis was an elder in the Presbyterian Church, a member of the Presbyterian Women’s group, and the Corning Departmental Club. Phyllis was an exceedingly strong and resilient woman. With every health challenge or affliction, she rebounded and persevered to the amazement of her family.

Preceding Phyllis in death was her husband, Stanley “Stan” Brokaw in 2005; her parents; her sister, Madeline Nadean Driskill (at age 11); her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Leland and Lucille Brokaw; maternal grandparents and beloved paternal grandfather, Cliff Driskill.

Phyllis is survived by her 3 children:  Randall L. “Chet” Brokaw of Pierre, South Dakota, David (wife Melody) Brokaw of Corning, Iowa and daughter, Lynn (husband Rick) Hickman of Melbourne, Iowa; 8 grandchildren:  Leland Brokaw, Brian Hickman, Trevor Hickman, David Dean Brokaw II, Michael Brokaw, Rebecca Dunham, Teresa Rummer and Leah Mills; 3 step grandchildren:  Allison Wiley, Andrew Wiley and Tony Wiley; 7 great-grandchildren; and 5 step great-grandchildren.  May God grant comfort and strength to those who mourn.