Ethel Marie Dinkel

Ethel Marie Brockbank Dinkel, 100, passed away peacfully with her daughter by her side at 11:20 p.m. January 4, 2014 at the House of Grace in Watson, Louisiana. Born on April, 28, 1914, she was the third of 10 children born to Edmund Prior and Florence Doers Brockbank in Ladysmith WI. Married to her beloved Robert Dinkel on May 14, 1940, they spent 48 years together in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Our mother was a role model as a loving parent, full of enthusiasm for life that was infectious. She taught us about caring for other people. After nursing school, she worked at Sacred Heart and Luther Hospitals in Eau Claire, ending her career at Uniroyal as an industrial nurse. Robert and Ethel spent almost 40 summers at the lake cottage in Chetek, Wisconsin. Every weekend saw them hosting friends and family. They always welcomed our teenaged friends and kept us in line. Ethel swam and canoed with us, but never learned to waterski. Our parents loved to dance and spent many years with a square dancing group with Robert being very sedate, but Ethel really cutting a rug. Mom never slowed down, because life was too much fun and there was always something new to see or do. After Robert's death in 1988, she continued to travel to Russia, China, Switzerland and throughout the good ol' USA. Accompanied by her children's worrying, she drove alone between Wisconsin and Texas until her 80's. Ethel moved to Baton Rouge about 12 years ago and made new friends. She loved musical and theater events and would sing whenever she could. As a life-long Green Bay Packers fan, she spent many hours watching football. She would sing "On Wisconsin" and end it with "Go, Tigers!". She is the last member of her generation. Her siblings included: Elizabeth Murray, Florence Johnson, Adele Rathsack, Senes Mestelle, Mary Kandler, Isabelle and Ruth Jane Brockbank, Tom and Dick Brockbank. She leaves 3 children and their spouses: Judy and Jim Smith, Rick and Melly Dinkel, David Dinkel and Lisa Patterson. Her eleven grandchildren are Rob and Ally Smith, Sarah Smith, David and Salena Dinkel, Tammy Dinkel and Wendy Wysocky, Elizabeth and Sophie Patterson, Sarah and John Sheehan. Her four great-grandchildren include: Mackenzie and James Ryan Smith, Kai and Ava Dinkel. She leaves behind many Yankee and Southern friends, as well as nieces and nephews scattered around the country. We thank the staff at House of Grace who cared for her with love and kindness. A celebration of her life will be held Saturday, January 10 at Broadmoor United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge. Visitation from 10:00am until services at 11:00am. Rev. Ken Carroll will lead the service. Rabenhorst Funeral Home East assisting with arrangements.