Patrick Edmond Brokaw, 61, rural Stronghurst, died on Monday, March 5, 2018, at his home. He was born September 27, 1956 in LaHarpe, Illinois, the son of William and Alice Kane Brokaw. On August 22, 1981, he married Brenda Harden at St. Patrick Catholic Church of Raritan.

Patrick was a 1974 graduate of Southern High School and a 1977 graduate of Western Illinois University. He loved his family and farming as a way of life in the Raritan community. He co-owned and operated the last custom ear corn shelling business in the area with his brother Ray and neighbor Dick Grant. He was an innovator in no-till and strip-till farming techniques from the 1970s to the present and enjoyed raising Katahdin Hair Sheep with his family for many years.

Patrick was an active member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church where he served on the Cemetery Board. He was a current Raritan Township trustee, a member of the Warren-Henderson Farm Bureau, Henderson County Historical Society, West Central FFA Alumni, and a former member of the Henderson County 4-H Extension Council and Henderson County Soil and Water Conservation Board. He was a proud supporter of Southern and West Central athletics and FFA programs. He was a Junior High and High School track and cross-country coach, which he greatly enjoyed. He believed in every child he coached and those from other teams and made them realize their true potential on and off the course. He was an avid Fighting Illini fan.

Survivors include his mother, Alice Brokaw of rural Stronghurst; wife, Brenda of rural Stronghurst; three daughters, Sarah (Ryan) Sextro of St. Louis, Missouri, Theresa Brokaw of Monmouth and boyfriend Bob Meade, Mary (Landry) Williams of New Haven, Indiana; one son, Father Lee Brokaw of Champaign; one granddaughter, Elizabeth Christine Williams; three brothers, Joe (Tammy) Brokaw, Ray Brokaw and friend Karen Richardson, Richard (Wendy) Brokaw; mother-in-law Norma Harden, brother-in-law Bob (Sharie) Harden and sister-in-law Melinda (Vince) Whiteman; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, William Brokaw; one brother, Paul Brokaw; and father-in-law Duane Harden.

The rosary will be recited at 5pm on Thursday, March 8, 2018 at Banks and Beals Funeral Home in Stronghurst followed by visitation with the family until 8 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 3pm on Friday, March 9 ^th at Saint Patrick's Catholic Church near Raritan with Father Lee Brokaw as celebrant. Burial will follow in Saint Patrick's cemetery. A funeral dinner will be served in the Community Building following the burial. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established for St. Patrick's Catholic Church.