Racine- A long term resident of Racine, Dr. James Russell Brokaw, known to many as ”Russ” and to others as “Doc”, was found deceased at his residence on November 30, 2007, having passed away on or around Thanksgiving Day. Born in Fullerton, North Dakota on 6/16/31, Russ, who was the oldest of 7 children, was 12 years old when his mother passed away during childbirth, and the children were raised by their father and grandmother on their farm in Fullerton. He faithfully served our Country with the United States Army and Air Force. Dr. Brokaw was a Professor of Psychology at several colleges and universities, and also operated a halfway house in partnership with another psychologist for a number of years prior to his early retirement due to a medical disability. Dr. Brokaw attended West Point Academy from 1951-1953; subsequently obtained his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of North Dakota; obtained his Master of Arts Degree in Psychology from the University of South Dakota in 1958; and graduated from Florida State University with a PhD in Psychology on 8/22/68. He went on to publish numerous papers and was regarded as a scholar in the field of animal learning, research & motivation relating to human behavior. He was predeceased by his parents; father- Russell Thompson Brokaw, mother- Gertrude Alice Nuss Brokaw and a brother- Francis Leon Brokaw. Other siblings are Margaret Estelle Brokaw Roll, Ruth Elizabeth, David Eugene, Robert Allen and Gertrude Alice. He is survived by his former wife, Anne Brokaw Braun of Boca Raton, Fl and a step-son Claude Christopher Spires of Cincinnati, Oh, and by his friends at Hamzi’s and Kewpee’s Restuarants; Drago Dragutin and his wife Donna; Mary Christman, the bus driver who missed him on her route and went to find him when he failed to take the bus as usual; and many other friends including his beloved cats. Dr. Brokaw will be buried with honors at the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 21731 Spring St in Union Grove on Tuesday, December 11th, at 11:30 am. Please meet directly at the cemetery chapel.
Dennis L. Brokaw says
To the Family Of Russ, my deepest condolences. Russ and I are distant cousins who collaborated on some Brokaw Family History Research over the years. He will be dearly missed.