Marilyn Ann Broghammer

Marilyn Ann (Muscat) Broghammer, 79, of Clear Lake, Iowa passed away on Wednesday, January 20, 2016 at home surrounded by her family. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11:00 AM Monday, January 25th at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 1001 9th Avenue South, Clear Lake with Rev. John Gossman, celebrant. Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 PM Sunday at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue, Mason City, Iowa. A Scriptural wake service will be held at 6:00 PM. Interment will be 1:00 PM Tuesday in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mount Mercy University (c/o Benjamin and Lucille Broghammer Nursing Scholarship Fund), St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, or Hospice of North Iowa.

Marilyn was born in Mobile, Alabama on April 17, 1936 to Dr. Joseph and Agnes Muscat. She attended Webster College and then St. Louis University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing in 1958. While attending SLU, she met the love of her life and her husband of 57 years, Dr. Benjamin Broghammer. Marilyn loved Mobile, but she loved Ben more – and Ben convinced Marilyn to settle in Mason City, Iowa in 1965 where they raised their eight children. In 1992, shortly before Ben’s retirement, Ben and Marilyn moved to Clear Lake where they made their home. They wintered in warmer climates – most recently in Fairhope, Alabama on Mobile Bay. The family is blessed to have had thirty-five of them together this past Christmas in Puerto Rico. Marilyn (known as “Nana” to her grandchildren) was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who provided a warm, welcoming (and always organized!) home to family, friends and neighbors. Marilyn was a devout Catholic and was a longtime member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Mason City and, more recently, of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Clear Lake. She was active in a number of social and civic organizations including Meals on Wheels (a founding member), St. Joseph’s Parish Life, St. Joseph’s Parish Council, North Iowa Mercy Hospital Auxiliary, Clear Lake Yacht Club, Girl Scouts, and P.E.O. In addition, for many years Marilyn taught disabled children how to swim. In recent years, she was a Eucharistic Minister to residents of the Apple Valley Assisted Living Facility in Clear Lake.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Helen Robinson and Betty Wilson, her brothers Paul, Jim and Joe Muscat, and her granddaughter Michon Runyon.

Marilyn is survived by her husband, Dr. Benjamin Broghammer, and her children: Margaret (Devon) Runyon of Council Bluffs, Dr. Ben (Kathy) Broghammer of Mequon, WI, Sharon (Andy) Miller of Des Moines, Tim (Laurie) Broghammer of Solon, Chris (Scott) Long of Des Moines, Dr. Matt (Laurie) Broghammer of Winona, MN, Greg (Kellie) Broghammer of Sheboygan, WI, and Dr. Liz (Mike) Takacs of Iowa City, as well as eighteen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. In addition, she is survived by her brother Kenny Muscat of Mobile, AL and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.