Alta Mae Brokaw

Alta Mae Brokaw, age 76 of Raritan, Illinois passed away at 8:35 a.m. Thursday October 29, 2015 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, Illinois. She was born October 10, 1939 in Burlington, Iowa, the daughter of Robert and Martha Haines Harden. On July 16, 1961, she married Lawrence Brokaw in Raritan.

Mrs. Brokaw was a graduate of Western Illinois State Teachers College in Macomb, Illinois. She was a school teacher, first at Gladstone Grade School, then Tri Valley Middle School, and finally at Union High School, which later became West Central High School. She retired in 2013. She was a member of the Retired Teachers Association and the Raritan Baptist Church, where she served as Treasurer for many years. Her greatest enjoyments in life were her students. She loved teaching, tutoring, and helping them further their education.

Survivors include her husband, one brother- Duane (Norma) Harden of Stronghurst, IL, and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters, Carolyn Waddell and Martha Adalee Meloan.

Visitation will be from 3:00 until 5:00 p.m. Sunday at Banks & Beals Funeral Home in Stronghurst. The funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Monday November 2, 2015 in the Raritan Baptist Church, with Rev. Richard Johnson officiating. Burial will be in the Raritan Cemetery. Memorials have been established for the Raritan Baptist Church and the Stronghurst Ambulance Service. Condolences may be left at banksandbeals.com.