Funeral Mass held for retired longtime W.U. fire chief Chuck Broghammer

A Mass of Christian Burial for Charles P. “Chuck” Broghammer, 87, of West Union was celebrated Tuesday, May 21, at Holy Name Catholic Church in West Union. 

Burial was in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, rural West Union.

Burnham-Wood & S.K. Rogers Funeral Home of West Union was in charge of arrangements.

Chuck died Thursday, May 16, 2013, at his West Union home, where he resided for the last 80 years.

Charles Philip “Chuck” Broghammer was born to Dr. Francis J. and Margaret (Leahy) Broghammer on April 29, 1926, in Superior, Wis. 

He graduated from West Union High School in 1944. Following high school, Chuck proudly served his country as a medic in the United States Navy. 

After serving in the Navy, Chuck attended St. Louis University. 

He then returned to West Union to work on the family farm. 

On Oct. 12, 1957, Chuck was united in marriage with Marion Deeny at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Waucoma. 

Soon after, he began his career in plumbing and heating, first working for Johnson-Biermann and later for Gage & Gage, both in West Union.

Chuck was a very active member of Holy Name Catholic Church, serving as caretaker of Mt. Calvary Cemetery. He was also the first Grand Knight of the St. Thomas Council of the Knights of Columbus and a member of the Davis Assembly of the Fourth-Degree Knights of Columbus. 

He belonged to West Union American Legion Post 15 and the local VFW. 

A longtime member of the West Union Fire Department, Chuck volunteered his time from 1953 to 2004, including serving as the chief from 1983 until his retirement. He belonged to the Iowa Firemen's Association and was a lifetime member of the Iowa Fire Chiefs Association.

Chuck received the following awards: Governor’s Award for Certificate of Merit, 1994; Roger Mooty Memorial Fire Chiefs Association Award, 1995; West Union Citizen of the Year, 2002; and Governor’s Award for Firefighter of Year, 2003.

In his leisure time, Chuck enjoyed woodworking and gardening. He loved to spend time with his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Anna Louise.

Chuck is survived by his wife, Marion, of West Union; six children, Bernardine (Greg) Bordignon of Robins, Janice (Gary) Rosauer of Gilbertville, Joyce (Mike) Friederich of Elgin, Bill (Lori) Broghammer of Charles City, Louise (Sam) Basile of Rockford, Ill., and Theresa Broghammer of Marion; 12 grandchildren, Natalie and Lynette Bordignon, Lisa (Dan) Jones, Amy (Andy) Krenz, Joe and Nick Rosauer, Amanda (Luke) Nims, Ryan (Holly) Friederich, Tyler and Taylor Ishman, Emily and Patricia Basile; and five great-grandchildren.

Also surviving are his twin sister, Carolyn Leehy, and his sister, Mary Margaret (Phil) Schmidt; numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be directed to the family to be dispersed between the West Union Fire Department and Mount Calvary Cemetery Chapel for renovations.