Donald Emmanuel Brocher

Donald Brocher, 91, died peacefully on April 11, 2016 at Alexian Village, Milwaukee, Wisc.

Donald was born in Two Rivers, Wisc., on March 9, 1925, the oldest child of the late Emanuel M. and Myrtle Ann (Lahey) Brocher.

He married Evelyn Anstis Nuzum on October 23, 1948, at Viroqua, Wisc. They met earlier in the year in a philosophy class at the University of Wisconsin Madison.

At an early age Donald moved with his parents from Two Rivers to Milwaukee, Wisc., where he attended parochial and public schools and graduated from Riverside High School in 1943. He enlisted in the US Army during WWII, serving in the 835th Signal Service Battalion in India. Returning to Milwaukee following the war, he later earned a BA in Economics and an MBA from UW Madison. After his marriage, he worked for several years as the manager of L.G. Nuzum Lumber Co. at Hillsboro, Wisc., owned by his father-in-law. He later worked as a human resources manager for the Madison Gas and Electric Company, Fruehoff Corp. in Detroit, and the US Postal Service at Grand Rapids and Milwaukee. After serving a few years as the Postmaster of Rockford, he retired in 1989 to return with his wife to the Milwaukee area.

Donald was civic-minded throughout his life. In 1952 he was elected mayor of Hillsboro, Wisc., becoming one of the youngest mayors in state history. He served on several committees at Alexian Village until a few months ago. He loved to garden, golf, draw and paint, teach art classes, read mystery novels, travel, attend elder hostels, and Packers and Brewers games. He continued to enjoy playing golf and teaching watercolor classes through the summer of his 90th year. He cared for people and had a lively and sometimes mischievous sense of humor.

Mr. Brocher was survived by his wife; daughters Kathryn B. (Joseph) Van Sickle, of Sacramento, Calif., Susan E. (Joseph) Krall of Grafton, and son Thomas M., of South San Francisco, Calif.; grandchildren Andrea Muniz, Joseph Van Sickle, Jackie, Thomas, and Michael Krall, and Mark and Alison Brocher; two great-grandchildren; two brother-in-laws; three nieces and four nephews.

In addition to his parents, Donald was predeceased by both of his sisters, Winifred Myrtle (Gordon) Feld and Joan Barbara (Ronald) Miller, and a son, Timothy Donald, who died in 1969.

Donations in Donald's memory may be made to the charity of the donor's choice.

Donald's family is extremely grateful for the care he received from the wonderful caregivers at Alexian Village skilled nursing facility, Horizon Hospice, and Home Instead.