Online obituary only. No print version published.
Joseph Donald Brocksmith Sr. 87, of Riverview FL, died Thursday, August 30, 2018 from complications of Lung cancer.
Joe was born to Joseph Jasper and Martha Jane Brocksmith in January of 1931 in Philadelphia Missouri. Joe was the youngest of 7 children.
After Joe was Honorably discharged from the Marines he had various jobs including a short time as a roofer and at Gardner Denver. Also a delivery driver for Sam Rinella, the local Budweiser distributor. He obtained a CDL license and once a week drove Sam's semi to St. Louis to pick up a fresh supply of beer. Joe also was a Quincy Police Patrol Officer (sometimes on a motorcycle) for several years but decided in 1960 he needed safer employment and was hired to be an Insurance Adjuster. This took Joe & his family to Rushville IL. Over the years, he worked for 3 different insurance companies in three different towns: Freeport, Gibson City, and Mattoon. The last 20+ years he ran a one man office for American States Insurance in Mattoon IL until his retirement in 1993.
After retirement Joe & Louise bought a home in Riverview FL and moved south. He enjoyed his retirement years doing things he loved. Those included fishing spending time with his family and taking cruises with his bride.
He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Veronica Louise (née Mahair) Brocksmith. Daughter Shari Cox, Valrico, FL, son Terry Brocksmith (Debbie) Zephyrhills FL, daughter Lindy Bone (Cindy) Brandon FL, granddaughter Christine Eck (Mike) Ruskin FL, grandson Sean Burgess, Valrico FL, Chloe Brocksmith & Taylor Eck both of Ruskin FL. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, his siblings and his eldest son, JD Brocksmith II.
Joe's wishes were to be cremated. We scattered some of his ashes in the Hillsborough River in a private memorial with family. He also loved cruising so several of us went on a cruise to Bermuda & Grand Turk. While passing through The Bermuda Triangle the staff took us to a lower deck on the aft where we had a private ceremony and threw a biodegradable Marine Corps urn with the remaining ashes and red roses into the ocean. It was very fitting for him.
Joseph Donald Brocksmith Sr. 87, of Riverview FL, died Thursday, August 30, 2018 from complications of Lung cancer.
Joe was born to Joseph Jasper and Martha Jane Brocksmith in January of 1931 in Philadelphia Missouri. Joe was the youngest of 7 children.
After Joe was Honorably discharged from the Marines he had various jobs including a short time as a roofer and at Gardner Denver. Also a delivery driver for Sam Rinella, the local Budweiser distributor. He obtained a CDL license and once a week drove Sam's semi to St. Louis to pick up a fresh supply of beer. Joe also was a Quincy Police Patrol Officer (sometimes on a motorcycle) for several years but decided in 1960 he needed safer employment and was hired to be an Insurance Adjuster. This took Joe & his family to Rushville IL. Over the years, he worked for 3 different insurance companies in three different towns: Freeport, Gibson City, and Mattoon. The last 20+ years he ran a one man office for American States Insurance in Mattoon IL until his retirement in 1993.
After retirement Joe & Louise bought a home in Riverview FL and moved south. He enjoyed his retirement years doing things he loved. Those included fishing spending time with his family and taking cruises with his bride.
He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Veronica Louise (née Mahair) Brocksmith. Daughter Shari Cox, Valrico, FL, son Terry Brocksmith (Debbie) Zephyrhills FL, daughter Lindy Bone (Cindy) Brandon FL, granddaughter Christine Eck (Mike) Ruskin FL, grandson Sean Burgess, Valrico FL, Chloe Brocksmith & Taylor Eck both of Ruskin FL. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, his siblings and his eldest son, JD Brocksmith II.
Joe's wishes were to be cremated. We scattered some of his ashes in the Hillsborough River in a private memorial with family. He also loved cruising so several of us went on a cruise to Bermuda & Grand Turk. While passing through The Bermuda Triangle the staff took us to a lower deck on the aft where we had a private ceremony and threw a biodegradable Marine Corps urn with the remaining ashes and red roses into the ocean. It was very fitting for him.
Online obituary only. No print version published.
Joseph Donald Brocksmith Sr. 87, of Riverview FL, died Thursday, August 30, 2018 from complications of Lung cancer.
Joe was born to Joseph Jasper and Martha Jane Brocksmith in January of 1931 in Philadelphia Missouri. Joe was the youngest of 7 children.
After Joe was Honorably discharged from the Marines he had various jobs including a short time as a roofer and at Gardner Denver. Also a delivery driver for Sam Rinella, the local Budweiser distributor. He obtained a CDL license and once a week drove Sam's semi to St. Louis to pick up a fresh supply of beer. Joe also was a Quincy Police Patrol Officer (sometimes on a motorcycle) for several years but decided in 1960 he needed safer employment and was hired to be an Insurance Adjuster. This took Joe & his family to Rushville IL. Over the years, he worked for 3 different insurance companies in three different towns: Freeport, Gibson City, and Mattoon. The last 20+ years he ran a one man office for American States Insurance in Mattoon IL until his retirement in 1993.
After retirement Joe & Louise bought a home in Riverview FL and moved south. He enjoyed his retirement years doing things he loved. Those included fishing spending time with his family and taking cruises with his bride.
He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Veronica Louise (née Mahair) Brocksmith. Daughter Shari Cox, Valrico, FL, son Terry Brocksmith (Debbie) Zephyrhills FL, daughter Lindy Bone (Cindy) Brandon FL, granddaughter Christine Eck (Mike) Ruskin FL, grandson Sean Burgess, Valrico FL, Chloe Brocksmith & Taylor Eck both of Ruskin FL. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, his siblings and his eldest son, JD Brocksmith II.
Joe's wishes were to be cremated. We scattered some of his ashes in the Hillsborough River in a private memorial with family. He also loved cruising so several of us went on a cruise to Bermuda & Grand Turk. While passing through The Bermuda Triangle the staff took us to a lower deck on the aft where we had a private ceremony and threw a biodegradable Marine Corps urn with the remaining ashes and red roses into the ocean. It was very fitting for him.
Joseph Donald Brocksmith Sr. 87, of Riverview FL, died Thursday, August 30, 2018 from complications of Lung cancer.
Joe was born to Joseph Jasper and Martha Jane Brocksmith in January of 1931 in Philadelphia Missouri. Joe was the youngest of 7 children.
After Joe was Honorably discharged from the Marines he had various jobs including a short time as a roofer and at Gardner Denver. Also a delivery driver for Sam Rinella, the local Budweiser distributor. He obtained a CDL license and once a week drove Sam's semi to St. Louis to pick up a fresh supply of beer. Joe also was a Quincy Police Patrol Officer (sometimes on a motorcycle) for several years but decided in 1960 he needed safer employment and was hired to be an Insurance Adjuster. This took Joe & his family to Rushville IL. Over the years, he worked for 3 different insurance companies in three different towns: Freeport, Gibson City, and Mattoon. The last 20+ years he ran a one man office for American States Insurance in Mattoon IL until his retirement in 1993.
After retirement Joe & Louise bought a home in Riverview FL and moved south. He enjoyed his retirement years doing things he loved. Those included fishing spending time with his family and taking cruises with his bride.
He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Veronica Louise (née Mahair) Brocksmith. Daughter Shari Cox, Valrico, FL, son Terry Brocksmith (Debbie) Zephyrhills FL, daughter Lindy Bone (Cindy) Brandon FL, granddaughter Christine Eck (Mike) Ruskin FL, grandson Sean Burgess, Valrico FL, Chloe Brocksmith & Taylor Eck both of Ruskin FL. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, his siblings and his eldest son, JD Brocksmith II.
Joe's wishes were to be cremated. We scattered some of his ashes in the Hillsborough River in a private memorial with family. He also loved cruising so several of us went on a cruise to Bermuda & Grand Turk. While passing through The Bermuda Triangle the staff took us to a lower deck on the aft where we had a private ceremony and threw a biodegradable Marine Corps urn with the remaining ashes and red roses into the ocean. It was very fitting for him.
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