Loretta Bernadine Brockhoff passed away at her home in Tokeland, Washington on July 30, 2023. She was born May 21, 1930 in Aberdeen, Washington to Robert and Mary (Gillis) Schiller.
At the age of three years old, Loretta’s family moved to “The Farm” in Markham, Washington, where she spent the younger years of her life.
Loretta attended Ocosta Schools and graduated in 1948, valedictorian of her class, receiving a full scholarship at WSU. She then went on to attend business school in Seattle, Washington.
She first came to Tokeland when she was 13 to spend the summer with her sister, Jennie. She came back to Tokeland in 1946 to go to work at Nelson Crab, where she started out as a crab shaker, and ended her 46-year career as head of Nelson’s Seatreat’s gift department.
Loretta married her life long love and dancing partner, Jack, on June 25, 1950. In 1953, they purchased their Tokeland home and fishing vessel, Shirley Lee.
Loretta was very active. She participated in the Tokeland School Mother’s Club and The Red Hat Ladies. She was a member of the South Beach Christian Center, and was involved in Kid’s Night Out. She was a presenter at the South Beach Historical Society’s Fireside Chats, where a select few community member’s would share their memories of growing up in North Cove and Tokeland. She was a member of a local Writers Group, participated in Fisher Poets in Astoria, and was named as the Grand Marshall in The Tokeland Parade. She was most recently awarded for her 50 years of involvement in the North Cove Grange, this past year.
She loved to write and started in grade school. She authored two books, one of short stories and one of poems. Her love for travel took her to places like Japan, New York, and most recently, Hawaii. She loved to dig clams, and loved to garden, where she always said that she felt the closest to God. She harvested her own foods from her garden, and she canned her own tuna, clams, jams, and vegetables. Loretta loved her family, and loved having everyone together. From the time her kids were little they spent summers at community picnics, and always remained close with her grandchildren, great-grand children, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Loretta is survived by her sister Connie Longenecker, five children, Bob Brockhoff, Alan (Becky) Brockhoff, Joe (Michelle) Brockhoff, Shirley (Bruce) Urquhart, Jennifer (Karl) Imlig, 13 grandchildren, 16 great-grand children, and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was proceeded in death by her husband Jack, her three sisters Jennie Wilcox, Ruthie Davis, Elsie Weglarz, and three brothers Robert Schiller, Georgie Schiller, and Donald Schiller.
A celebration of life will be held Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023 at the South Beach Christian Center in Grayland, Washington at 11 a.m.
Should you desire, memorial contributions can be made to South Beach Outreach or Ocosta Cares as an expression of sympathy.
