Elmer Marvin Brockmeier

Delivered by his father during a blizzard on their farm near Yuma, Colorado, Elmer learned from an early age the skill of managing & thriving in difficult circumstances. Until his adolescence, he & his parents grew crops while they hoped for adequate rain; raised enough cows & chickens to feed the three of them; & coped with the extremes of heat, cold, & wind of the Eastern Colorado prairie. Riding his horse Don to school gave this only child not only a one-room school education but also playmates, including his cousins. As a teenager Elmer moved with his parents Bill & Frieda to Denver where they owned & ran a small local grocery. His parents had a room in back, while he slept in the cellar amongst the stored goods. It was in this neighborhood where he met his future wife Betty. At first she considered him a sissy since he didn't have time to play baseball with the neighborhood kids. Eventually they fell in love while ice-skating on a date set up by his cousin. Before Betty's death, they celebrated 78 years of marriage, remaining openly affectionate with each other to the end.

After high school, Elmer was hired as a lineman for AT&T & was soon dubbed "Brock" by his telephone "gang" buddies as they installed the transcontinental telephone circuit for the US through the Western States. The nickname stuck. After marriage, Betty joined in this vagabond lifestyle that they both came to love, sometimes not even having time to pack their few possessions before hopping on a train for the next location. Friends helped out by bringing their suitcases along in a day or two. When the US entered WWII, Brock enlisted in the Army Air Corps, eventually being shot down & captured by the Germans. Even in POW camp he showed his ability to make the best of things by starting a laundry service for fellow prisoners. Red Cross cigarettes were the currency, & before long he & his partner owned all the cigarettes in camp. Toward the end of the war during a bitter winter--without adequate food & clothing--he was forced to march about 260 miles to a second POW camp, sleeping along the way in barns, churches & outdoors.

Prior to this march, Betty had given birth to their daughter Carol, though he didn't know this until 3 months later on Christmas Eve 1944. Upon his release when war ended, they settled in Denver where their sons Jim, Bill & Bob were born. Brock had moved into the office side of AT&T where he made his career in supply management & engineering positions despite having little college education. In 1952 AT&T transferred him to the Kansas City office. For 68 years they lived in the Hickman Mills area where Brock followed his passions for vegetable gardening & woodworking (including making ornaments & other decor every Christmas for all the extended family & friends), as well as dabbling in winemaking for a time. He was forever trying to outfox the starlings & the squirrels that raided his bird-feeders. He & Betty developed a wonderful group of friends, often throwing fun parties for them. They also enjoyed traveling throughout the US, even taking a hot air balloon ride over KC to celebrate an anniversary. In retirement, Brock learned to play the organ, giving Betty daily afternoon recitals. Sorrow came with grandson Andrew's unexpected death, then son Jim's. When Betty's health declined they moved to assisted living just before COVID hit. For over a year, they were trapped by the regulations that confined them mostly to their apartment, unable to receive visits from family or friends. To Brock--a people person--this seemed worse than being a POW. Then Betty died in 2020, leaving Brock to adjust to a whole new way of life. He managed by developing friendships with other residents & staff, engaging in Bingo & putting together jigsaw puzzles (two activities he'd never imagined he'd enjoy, but did), & with the devoted support of family--especially from longtime family friend Gail & youngest son Bob who managed his finances & pretty much everything else he needed. And right to the end of his 102 years, one of his biggest pleasures was checking his daily emails & carrying out internet searches on his iPad.

Brock was one of a kind. Every few weeks he pulled out his giant stainless steel bowl to mix together a batch of various cereals for his breakfast (always including Lucky Charms). He never thought he had enough magnifying glasses, belts, or nail clippers--demonstrated by the multiples he possessed. He was known for his many mottoes--especially "Time Will Tell." He had a million stories to share about his life, & somehow always managed to keep them engaging. He sprinkled every sentence with a gentle chuckle. Maintaining good habits of mental & physical exercise to the end of his life, he remained curious, open-minded & well-balanced. He lived his values: modesty, fairness, daring to try new things & discuss ideas, hard work & discipline (but always making time for pleasure). Brock was a friendly man: many staff called him "Mr. Rogers" for his mild & welcoming manner, gentle sense of humor, & maybe even the wearing of his trademark yellow cardigan sweater. He truly was a wonderful man: those who knew him best, as well as newly introduced strangers, frequently described him as "an amazing man." All in all, he had the knack for making an ordinary life into the extraordinary. Obviously, he is missed by many.

Brock is survived by his living children: Carol (Art) Cockrum of California, Bill (Roxanna) Brockmeier of Texas, & Bob (Diane) Brockmeier of Shawnee, Kansas. He also leaves 6 living grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, & 8 great-great grandchildren. Services will be held at Higginsville Veterans Cemetery.