Patricia Brockway, 96

Patricia Marie Warnken Brockway passed peacefully in her sleep on May 4, 2025 at home.

She was born March 9, 1929 in Superior, to Ted and Loretta Warnken, the oldest of ten children. She was followed by four brothers. Pat had despaired of ever getting a sister, then Rosemary was born in 1935, followed by another sister, Frances in 1937.

Pat remembered being sent to fetch Doc Doyle as the rest of the kids were born. It was sometimes very dark and scary with no streetlights, but she made it every time. But she never remembered being offered a ride home!
Pat was always very industrious, even from a young age. She and some of the siblings would sell the donuts that their mother made. She worked for her Grandma Kate at her private hospital during her teen years. She thinks it was in the house that is now Dick Feldbrugge’s home.

Around 1940 the family moved out of town to what is now the Warnken Ranch, which was established by Loretta’s father, Sam Bouchard. Loretta raised chickens to sell for meat and the whole family was involved in the operation of butchering and plucking feathers.

Patty recalls hitching rides on the “Milk Train” that passed by the ranch. They would ride it into town to enjoy the pool that was in front of the old school, which was just a hole in the ground filled with icy water for the town kids to swim in. It took all summer for the water to get warm! Pat couldn’t remember how they got back home afterwards.

Pat graduated from Superior High School in the spring of 1947, and married Duane (Duff) Brockway June 20th. Sons Dennis and Jeff were born in 1950 and 1954. When her mother died at age 56 Pat became a second mother to her younger siblings also.

Pat had a short career working at Hilton’s store, then went to work at the bank uptown where she retired as a bookkeeper sometime in the 1980’s. She was a long-time member of the pinochle club, garden club, and quilting guild. She had a gorgeous yard full of flowers and made many quilts as gifts for family members. She also made cakes for weddings, birthdays and other events. She knitted and sold Mary Maxim sweaters for years and had lots of other crafts that she enjoyed in later years.

Pat was preceded in death by hubby Duff, son Dennis, brothers Gerald, Richard, James, Clifford and Dwight, sisters Rosemary and Frances, and her beloved wiener dog, Speedo.

She is survived by her son, Jeff (Cathy), daughter-in-law Cammie, sister Susan (Hugh), brother Donald (Beverly), grandkids Curt, Katie, and Noble Brockway, and great grandson Cooper McMillan as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

A private family burial for Patricia and sister Rosemary will be held at 10 a.m. on June 28 at the Superior cemetery, with a potluck and memorial to follow at 2 p.m. at Bouchard Lake.