Marvel Rose Broka

Marvel Rose Broka, age 87, passed away gently, Tuesday, September 14, 2021 at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center following a brief illness.

Born November 7, 1933 to Myron Clinton and Lillian (Welty) Kurtz in Bucyrus, Ohio, she and husband, Richard  had been  Shelby residents for the last 65 years.

Marvel was a graduate from local business college and started as an Executive Secretary at Perfection Corp, Galion.   Later, she worked at JCPenney  and Shelby Mutual Insurance.  Her favorite role was  stay-at-home mom for their daughters, Deborah and Cheryl, Many young girls were also lucky to have Marvel as their Brownie Leader.   After her grandchildren were born, she became very involved in their lives. Later, she was an active member of the community delivering Meals on Wheels, volunteering at Shelby Hospital, and organizing class reunions with her Whetstone High School classmates. Most importantly, she loved being a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother and said that "the love of her family is what brought her the greatest joy."

Marvel adored spending time with and writing letters to her family and friends.  Marvel was an active member at Berean Baptist Church and brought many delicious casseroles to potluck dinners and attended weekly services. She was a proud member of the Shelby community. Marvel was a big fan of the Shelby Whippet sports teams,  the annual fireworks show, "Bicycle Days", Picnicing in the Park , and spending time at  Marvin Memorial Library where she would  read the paper and find the books her daughters and granddaughters enjoyed. Marvel loved to drive on back country roads and was always 'up' for a  road trip.  One of her favorite destinations was Lakeside, where she would volunteer during the summer. Marvel was passionate about helping others and is remembered by her family for her sayings which include: "thank you Jesus," "love others," "you feel so much better when you can give of yourself," "now how can we help this person," and "early to bed, early to rise, makes a person healthy, wealthy, and wise."

She is survived by her husband of 65 years Richard L. Broka; daughters, Deborah d'Aquin of Burnsville, North Carolina, Cheryl Carson of Lancaster, Ohio; grandchildren, Andrew (Kelsey) Carson, Eva (Steven) Coulson-Richardson, Zoe (Cory) Steinmetz, Derek Carson, and Aaron Carson; great-grandchild, Bennett Scott Carson; and other relatives.

Marvel is preceded in death by her parents, brother Glen Eugene Kurtz, and Faythe (Kurtz) Heiser.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at the Barkdull Funeral Home & Crematory in Shelby, Tuesday, September 21, 2021 at 2:00 PM. Services will be live streamed via Barkdull Funeral Home's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BarkdullFH

The family requests in lieu of flowers that donations be made in memory of Marvel R. Broka to the Lakeside Chautauqua Foundation,    236 Walnut Avenue, Lakeside, OH. 43440

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