Debbie Brockway

DEBRA ROSE BROCKWAY, age 61, of rural Le Center, passed away on June 27, 2025, at her home, surrounded by her loving family after a one-year courageous battle with cancer.

Born on May 14, 1964, in New Prague, she was the daughter of Leonard and Gladys (Taraba) Dols. She grew up in Montgomery and graduated from Montgomery High School with the class of 1982. She continued her education for one year at South Central Community College in Faribault. Debbie always dreamed of marriage and having a family. She met Mike Brockway through mutual friends, and they were united in marriage on June 18, 1983, at Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Montgomery. After living in Montgomery for a short time, they built their forever home on Lake Volney in 1987, where they proudly raised their two children, Tim and Jenny.

While raising their two kids, Debbie provided care for her children along with her nieces and nephews before beginning a 31-year career for the local school district in Le Center and later for Tri City United in Montgomery as a paraprofessional and librarian. Her love for being outside was evident as she enjoyed relaxing in the sun on her front steps and cherished golf cart rides around the countryside while watching the deer and birds with her husband. She loved the lake, and every summer was spent on the pontoon with her family. Debbie was a caregiver, and children naturally gravitated towards her. In 2015, she joyfully stepped into one of her most cherished roles – becoming a grandma – a title she wore with immense love and pride. She will be remembered as a simple woman who loved her family fiercely. She will be dearly missed.

Debbie is survived by her husband of 42 years, Mike; children: Tim Brockway (Katie Witte), and Jenny O’Rourke; grandchildren: Luke and Joe Brockway and Brynlee and Bria O’Rourke; siblings: Laure (Kevin) Jirak and David Dols; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Alvin and Mary (Traxler) Brockway; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; Brad (Kathy) Brockway, Alan Brockway, Steve (Kim) Brockway, and Deb (Scott) Hadley; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents; infant sister, Mary Dols; nieces: Stacy Jirak, Kaylie Hogue; and nephew, Tyler Hadley.

Visitation will be from 4:00 – 7:00 PM on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, at the Le Center Chapel of Schoenbauer Funeral Homes. Visitation will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Le Center. Interment will follow at Lake Gorman Cemetery in Cordova.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred and will be directed towards purchasing new books in her memory for the TCU School library.