Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Brokaw, Martin Luther 1998
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Marilyn Ransom mransom311@gmail.com August 25, 2014, 10:40 pm

The Greenville Daily News, February 1998


The Rev. Martin Luther Brokaw joined his heavenly Father on Sunday, February 1, 
1998, at his daughter’s home at Bear Lake.  He was born May 11, 1905 in 
Uniondale, Virginia, the son of Jacob and Mary Etta Beckler Brokaw.  

Luther graduated from Upland High School, Indiana, in 1926.  He attended Taylor 
University in Upland, graduating in 1932.  While attending Taylor he met his 
future wife, Edna Belle Musser.  In 1932 Luther, with $4 in his pocket, 
hitchhiked to Boston, Mass. to find work and attend Boston University School of 
Theology.  On September 13, 1933 Edna joined him and they were married at Park 
Street Church in Boston, by Dr. A.Z. Conrad.

Upon Luther’s ordination he was called to serve Methodist churches in northern 
Michigan.  In 1937 he became pastor of the Manton, Bloomfield and Colfax 
churches.  In 1942 he served the Mancelona and Alba churches.  In 1943 he 
became pastor of the Bellaire and Central Lake Methodist churches.  During this 
time they adopted their daughters, Mary Elizabeth and Margaret Ann.

In June 1946 the family moved to Carson City and then, in 1951 to Middleville.  
In 1955 Belding became home and he served the Belding and Orleans Methodist 
churches.  He also served Valley Avenue Methodist Church in Grand Rapids in 
1961, Lake Odessa in 1962, and LeValley, near Ionia, in 1966.

In 1971 Luther retired but was called to continue his ministry at Center Park 
United Methodist Church  near Tree Rivers. In 1975 Luther and Edna officially 
retired and returned to make their home in Belding to be near family and 
friends.  

Luther was preceded in death by infant brothers, John Wesley and Harold; and 
his wife Edna in 1990.  He is survived by two daughters, and sons-in-law, Mary 
Elizabeth and David Knudson of Bear Lake, and Margaret and Charles Barker of 
Belding; grandchildren, Ed and Denice, Roger and Brenda Cowles, Charles Jr. and 
Carmin, Martin and Jody, Andrew, Kevin, Amy and Allison Barker; great-
grandchildren, Luther and Alex Cowles; and step great-grandchildren, John, 
Jason, Julie, Jody Fears, and Starlene and Troy Hudson.

The family will greet friends today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Johnson 
Funeral Home, Belding.  The funeral service is 11 a.m. Wednesday at Belding 
United Methodist Church.  Memorials may be made to Belding United Methodist 
Church, “Luther Brokaw Memorial Fund.”


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