Paul J. Brodine, 87, of Kearney died Dec. 19, 2012, at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney.
Paul was born April 17, 1925, at Elm Creek to Paul and Belva (McMichael) Brodine. He graduated from Lexington High School in 1942. He was a veteran of WWII, serving in the United States Navy from 1944-45.
On Sept. 21, 1946, he married Lucile Allison in Lexington. He and his wife moved to Kearney in 1955 and owned and operated Brodine Tractor until retiring in 1977.
He was a member of First United Methodist Church and the Together Sunday school class. He is also a past member of the Kearney Cosmopolitan Club and the Chamber of Commerce.
Paul took great delight in his family and many friends. He maintained a lively correspondence with people from Sweden to India. He freely shared his cheerful and generous spirit and he found something to like in everyone he met. Paul was proud of his Swedish heritage. He traveled to his ancestral land twice and organized many Brodine reunions. His lifelong love of flying led Paul to obtain his pilot’s license in 1965. He relished his flying adventures.
He was a devoted husband to Lucile, especially during her difficult decline with Alzheimer’s. As a father and grandfather he provided encouraging support, upbeat wisdom and rollicking fun. We will miss your smile, your bear hugs and your songs, Dad, but we know you are singing with the angels now.
Surviving relatives include son, Steve (Renee), of Kearney; daughters, Marcia (Gary) Ranch, of Ft. Collins, Colo., and Barbara (Ed) Uden, of Riverdale. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; sister; LaVaughn Lauby, of Lexington; nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, in 2004; brother, Gordon; and granddaughter, Tishanna Uden.
Memorials are suggested to Heifer International or Samaritan’s Purse. A message of condolence, tribute or memory can be left at www.hlmkfuneral.com.
Services will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 22, at the First United Methodist Church in Kearney, with the Rev. Carla Gunn and Pastor Alex Brodine officiating. Visitation is planned an hour before the service from 9-10 a.m. at the church. Graveside services and burial will be at 3 p.m. at the Morning View Cemetery in Wallace.
Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral Home in Kearney is in charge of arrangements