Jolene Kay Brotherson

Jolene Kay Brotherson passed away suddenly on April 19, 2025, at Methodist Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska, surrounded by her loving children. She was born on May 31, 1941 at home, outside of Mt. Carmel, Iowa, to Norbert and Ethel (Determan) Snyder. Jolene was a shining light in her family and community, leaving behind cherished memories that will forever warm the hearts of those who had the privilege of knowing her. She spent the elementary years in a one room school house a couple miles north of the family farm outside of Wall Lake, IA. Jolene and her siblings walked to and from school most days. She attended Wall Lake High School where she played the french horn in the band, was a cheerleader, and even homecoming queen her senior year. She graduated from Wall Lake High School on May 26, 1959.

After completing high school, Jolene attended the Humboldt Institute for Airline and Secretarial School in Minneapolis where she completed six months of training. She landed her first job in Des Moines at a credit bureau and later went on to work at Bell Telephone. She lived in a large house in Des Moines with 6 other young women, and said it was one of the best times of her life. Jolene worked mostly secretarial jobs for the majority of her working years.

She married Leon Brotherson on October 19, 1963 at Sacred Heart Church in Fort Dodge, Iowa. They lived in Fort Dodge when their first child, Shelly, was born in 1964. Their second child, Dirk, joined in 1965. They briefly moved to Rockport, Missouri before settling in Avoca in 1967. Tina completed the family in 1969. Jolene retired in January 2008. She enjoyed her Red Hat group and babysat for her first great-granddaughter on Wednesdays.

She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Norbert and Ethel; along with her brothers Leon, Allan, Gary and Dennis. Brothers-in-law: Paul Wettengel, Howard Brotherson, Gene Schulte, and Jim Roth; Nephews: Craig Greve, Steve Snyder, Allan Snyder Jr., Ricky Snyder, David Brotherson, and Mark Brotherson.

Jolene is survived by her husband of 61 years, Leon Brotherson, of Avoca and their children: Shelly Henderson (Shawn Peters) of Glenwood, Iowa; Dirk Brotherson of Avoca, Iowa; and Tina (Dan Roth), of Wall Lake, Iowa. Jolene's greatest joy was being a grandmother to ten grandchildren, as well as a great-grandmother to seventeen great-grandchildren, all of whom brought profound happiness and pride into her life. Jolene's loving nature also extended to her siblings, who will remember her with fondness: Karen Wettengel of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Linda Greve (Alvin) of Vail, Iowa; and Carmen Cogan (Joe), of Omaha, Nebraska. Sisters-in-law: Janice Snyder of Wall Lake, Iowa, Corrine Snyder of Davis, Oklahoma, and Rosa Snyder of Clive, IA. Her Brotherson 'outlaws': Delores Brotherson, Sandra Roth, Jeralyn Schulte, Keith and Ilene Brotherson, Bob and Beck Rodman, Starr and Doug Maasen, Todd and Debbi Brotherson. She is also survived by her many nieces, nephews, and friends. Jolene will always be remembered for her easy smile and little laugh.