Erma M. Bro

Erma Martha Bro, the daughter of Kasper Peter and Martha Kathryn (Larsen) Hansen, was born October 20, 1914, at her parents’ home in Audubon County near Brayton, Iowa and died April 26, 2013, at the Audubon County Memorial Hospital in Audubon, Iowa at the age of 98 years, 6 months, and 6 days. Erma was baptized as a child in March of 1915 and confirmed in 1926 at the Oakhill Lutheran Church west of Brayton. She attended rural school then worked as a hired girl for several area families. She later lived in Des Moines, Iowa for a year and was a maid in the home of a local dentist. On February 12, 1938, she was united in marriage to Arthur Kristen Bro at the Exira Lutheran Church in Exira, Iowa. Four children Beverly, Barbara, Richard and Bernadette were born to this union. They farmed southeast of Exira for many years. Erma helped on the farm raising chickens, separating milk, and growing vegetables in her garden. She also loved flowers and always had a beautiful flower garden. In 1978 they retired from farming and built a home in Exira. Later Art moved to the Exira Care Center in May of 2002, and then died July 21, 2004. Erma lived at home until she moved to the Exira Care Center in February of 2011. Erma was a member of the Exira Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday school, served on several committees and was a member of the women’s circle. She enjoyed gathering with the ladies to sew quilts. She had been a 4-H leader for many years. She enjoyed playing cards especially bridge and pinochle and was a member of several card clubs. Erma was preceded in death by her husband Arthur K. Bro; her parents; her infant twin brother Ernest Hansen; her brothers Arnold Hansen, Woodrow and wife Wilma Hansen; and her sister Fern and husband Donald Nelson. Survivors include her children and their spouses Beverly and Bill Gunderson of Atlantic, Iowa, Barbara and Bill Colbert of Oakton, Virginia, Richard and Sheryl Bro of Bloomington, Illinois, and Bernadette and Ken Brown of Raleigh, North Carolina; her grandchildren Eric Gunderson of Atlantic, Iowa, Penny McDonald of San Antonio, Texas, Bill and wife JoAnn Colbert of Oakton, Virginia, Brad and wife Carolyn Colbert of Encinitas, California, Angie and husband Todd Sindergard of Columbus, Ohio, Jeremy and wife Lisa Bro of Abbeville, Georgia, Kris and wife Marsha Bro of Johnston, Iowa, Andy Bro of Des Moines, Iowa, Zach Brown of Raleigh, North Carolina, and Jessie and husband Daniel Sellner of Charlotte, North Carolina; 9 great grandchildren, one great great grandson; her sisters-in-law Maxine Hansen of Atlantic, Iowa, Velma Moen of Austin, Minnesota, Leona Whitty of Belmond, Iowa, Mary and husband Ron Bro of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Ora Mae and husband Frank Bro of Toledo, Iowa, and Bernice Bro of Ames, Iowa; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Cemetery:
Interment will be in the Exira Cemetery in Exira.



Visitation:
The family will meet with friends on Tuesday evening April 30, 2013, at 6:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral home in Exira, Iowa.

Service:
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Steven Frock on Wednesday, May 1, 2013, at 1:00 P.M. at the Exira Lutheran Church in Exira, Iowa.