JoElyn Brodnan Brus, 84, passed away February 28, 2014, in Helena, MT. She was born February 8, 1930 in Carrollville, Wisconsin to Paul and Josephine (Mladsik) Brodnan and was one of eight girls.
JoElyn graduated from South Milwaukee High School and went on to Marquette University and graduated with a degree in sociology. She married Dr. Roger H. Brus in June 1960 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They moved to Libby Montana in 1965. JoElyn was a homemaker and then went back to school and graduated from Gonzaga University in 1979 with a Master Degree in Education. JoElyn taught in the Libby School District for over 20 years, spending the majority of her career at McGrade Elementary as a Resource Room Teacher. She was a longtime member of Saint Joseph’s Catholic Parish in Libby.
JoElyn was preceded in death by her parents and six sisters. She is survived by her husband Roger, son Kirk of Garden Grove California, son Reed of Helena Montana and her daughter Meliss (Gary) Maxfield of Tumwater, Washington, and grandchildren Olivia, Isabelle and Aidan Brus of Helena, Montana and Melyn Maxfield of Tumwater, Washington, sisters Ann Marie (Charles) Schultz of Steamboat Springs, Colorado and Betty Lockhart of Fairfax, Virginia. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
A vigil will be held at 5:00 p.m. Monday, March 3, 2014 at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Ave. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 12:00 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Helena. Interment will be in Resurrection Cemetery immediately following the Funeral Mass.
Service Schedule
Vigil
5:00 p.m.
Monday March 3, 2014
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave
Helena, Montana 59602
Funeral Mass
12:00 p.m.
Tuesday March 4, 2014
Cathedral of St. Helena
530 N. Ewing Street
Helena, Montana 59601
Interment
Following the Funeral Mass
Tuesday March 4, 2014
Resurrection Cemetery
Helena , Montana 59602
Service Schedule
Vigil
5:00 p.m.
Monday March 3, 2014
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave
Helena, Montana 59602
Funeral Mass
12:00 p.m.
Tuesday March 4, 2014
Cathedral of St. Helena
530 N. Ewing Street
Helena, Montana 59601
Interment
Following the Funeral Mass
Tuesday March 4, 2014
Resurrection Cemetery
Helena , Montana 59602
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Maureen Oelkers says
Reed, I am so sorry for your loss. The few times I was around you and your Mom I could tell how proud she was of you and how tender you were with her. I am praying for you and all your family at this time of such great loss. JoElyn had an amazing life on this earth. God Bless, MO
Nanc and Chuck Glaser says
Sorry to hear of your mom. Will always remember visiting her, Roger and Reed when we stopped to see them when Roger was in the hospital. Seeing them was one of the best highlights of our Montana trip. Take care, Nanc
Brus Family says
Dear Brus Family,
So sorry to hear about your wife and mother. We always enjoyed visiting with her when they came to Iowa. Lynn and her always had talks about school – comparing notes, venting and sharing the good things too. Give a hug to your dad for us. You will be in our thoughts and prayers, Lyle and Lynn Ries
Dale Ries says
Roger and family,
I just heard the sad news of JoElyn’s passing and I want to express my deepest sympathy to you for your loss. No words can take away the pain you feel now, but time and the memories of her life with you will always keep her close to you. It will be the many little things she did for you that will bring the memory of her back when you least expect it. I’ll keep you in my prayers as you navigate this difficult time. Know that she is watching over you now, as she sits God and the angels in heaven and is at peace. God bless, Dale
Greg and Bobbie says
We worked with JoElyn for many years at McGrade School. Over the years we also became great friends. We respected her ability as a teacher and never met a more dedicated teacher with her students. While Jo had great success, she was always humble and never asked for special recognition. For us, she was the best! And we will miss our good friend forever. Love, Greg Stickney and Bobbie Profitt
Don and Rose Weber and family says
Uncle Roger, Kirk, Meliss, and Reed:
Our sympathy goes out to each of you as you deal with the loss of your wife and mother. She always had the positive and uplifting personality that made her special in the ways about her. I can still remember when you would come to Iowa and visit and come to our farm. She was always amazed and intrigued by the farm animals that we had and how excited you kids would get being there in real life and touching the animals. She is in a wonderful place now and watching down upon the love of her life, her children, and grandchildren. You all made her happy and brought her much joy in her life. Hold onto those memories and share those memories with each other and your children when you get together for a family gathering. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers. Don and Rose Weber and family
Shirley Chase says
Reed, Kirk, and Meliss,
I am so sorry to learn of Jo’s death. I thought the world of your mother, and we had wonderful times together. She was the first student teacher I had that I thought she could take over my class and do a much better job. She was so admired, and absolutely no student was not going to learn under her tutelage. Our Friday night wine gatherings were a great way to wind down the week and catch up on school gossip. My prayers are with you all. She was so proud of you and her grandchildren. God Bless .
Terri Turman says
I had the great honor to work with your Mom and Wife for two years at McGrade School and learned so much from her. She had the biggest heart and the kids she worked with were very fortunate to have had her. Mrs. Brus will be missed and please know that she was loved by many. Heaven is very lucky to receive such a wonderful Lady. My prayers are with you and your family in this sad time.
Gary Blaz says
Dear Brus Family,
I am so very sorry to hear of our loss. I worked with Joelyn at McGrade Elementary. As most are aware I worked for her. I found Joelyn to be one of the most dedicated, determined, and compassionate educators that I have had the pleasure to work with. She accepted each of her students as a challenge for which she was always successful. She was always preparing for her students; first to arrive, last to leave, thus we would meet most Sunday afternoons to discuss the upcoming week. Along with being an exceptional educator, she was a true friend. I can only imagine that she was also a super mother and grandmother.
I will think of and pray for you and yours through these tough times.
Gary Blaz, McGrade Principal
Marilee says
Prayers and good thoughts to the family, especially, to Dr. Brus in these tough times. I can still hear JoEllyn say, “It is what it is”.
Mona Crismore says
I also worked with JoElyn at McGrade School for many years. She loved those students and they loved her. She was such a wonderful woman, she will be missed by the whole Libby community.
Jeannie says
Dear Brus family,
Words cannot express my sympathy at this time. Your beautiful JoElyn will always be remembered as a special soul. There is a new angel in heaven now.
Mike Giesey says
Dear Brus Family – I was lucky to have gotten to know JoElyn thru her many years as a Board Memeber of the CARD (Center for Asbestos Related Disease) Clininc in Libby. She was a force! Dedicated, hard working, and quite the jokester with her dry sense of humor. She know how to get things done. She was a terrific person who served her community unselfishly. She also volunteered with other organizations dealing with the asbestos issue in Libby. We are sorry to have lost such a great person.
You are in our prayers.
Mike Giesey – CARD board president.
Judy Tabis says
To the Brus Family – How sad I was to hear about JoElyn’s passing. What a dear sweet lady she was!! She was so dedicated to every adventure in life. Working with her at McGrade was certainly an adventure for me. She was definitely there for the kids and would do everything she could to help them. She was so kind to those of us who worked with her too. It was also always a pleasure to run into her at the store, or of all places… the train station at night as she was heading west to visit family and I was coming home from visiting mine. She had such a gentle spirit and sweet smile. What a privilege to have known her. We will all continue to carry a part of her with us. May you find comfort during this sad time, in knowing you are in the thoughts and prayers of so many. My heartfelt goes sympathy out to you.
Sincerely, Judy Tabis
Kathy Jenkins says
Kirk, Meliss and Reed,
I had the honor of working not only with your mom, but also with your dad. I worked for your dad as his receptionist until his retirement and then I worked with your mother as one of her paras at McGrade. She was a very special lady and a big influence in my life and the life of many others. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to your family and may the Lord comfort you during this difficult time.
Peace, Kathy Jenkins
Helen and Cindy Bundrock says
We are so sorry to learn of the passing of Mrs. Brus. JoElyn was an exceptional person who always had a positive thought to offer. She had a great dignity and we are so sorry to learn of her passing. To my friend Kirk and the rest of the Brus family, please know that you are in our thoughts and we are grateful for the experience of having known JoElyn.
Love,
Cindy and Helen Bundrock
Carol Baenen Cady says
Meliss….will really miss your Mom. We always had such fun visits when she would come in to Mountain Meadows. My prayers are with you and your family in this time of loss. Know that I am thinking of you…Love, Carol Cady
Sister Phyllis Ann Ries, RSM says
Dear Uncle Roger and family,
I am sorry for the loss of your wife and mother. I have many good memories of the visits that you, Roger, and JoElyn made to Iowa. JoElyn always had a welcoming smile and positive spirit. Now she is at home with God and can be of help to the rest of us on our journey to heaven. Know that each of you are held in my heart in prayer during the weeks and months ahead. May her spirit surround and comfort you always.
Sister Phyllis Ann Ries, RSM
Karen Horton says
JoElyn was an awesome lady and leaves an empty spot in our hearts. She was a valued member of the LATAG Board as well as many other boards and organizations around Libby. and it was a privilege to have worked with her and to have known her.
Jan Erickson says
My heart is broken for the family of JoElyn, as I am sure she was as wonderful mother and wife as she was a dedicated teacher. All the other comments say it so well for those that worked with her a longer time than I. I substituted in her resource room at McGrade and stood in awe of her abilities with these special children, what love. I also recall her spending hours with a small shopping cart in Center Drug with her daughter at her side in the early ’70s..what fun they had. Peace and blessings to each of you! Celebrate that she knows her Lord! With sincerity and love.
Jackie erfle says
Reed & Family,
I was sorry to learn of the passing of your mother. I was not “in-state” at the time so my message is late. I was introduced to your Mother thru mutual friend Shirley Chase. There was an immediate bond of mutual respect and friendship. I will always remember her work ethic, dedication and tenacity to bring out the most in all her students. She never gave up on any of them. We shared many good times and laughs over a glass of Friday wine planning a dinner out or a trip to Spokane. I feel so privileged to have shared part of my life with hers. In putting our lives together it’s our friends that are the glue. Blessings to you All.
Claudia Starkey says
Meliss, Kirk, Reed, and Dr. Brus
I just wanted you to know that my heart is with you and your family. I wish there was a way to return the kindness to your family at this time as you showed our family. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Claudia
Liz Bednar says
Went to Marquette with her and loved her as Jo/Josephine. She came to my home and my family thought so much of her. It was because of her that I left Marquette and started teaching at St. John’s in South Milwaukee. The school needed a third grade teacher and she said I was the right fit. Went on to teach and get my degree with five children. She was easy to love. My prayers and thoughts are with you.