Ex-township clerk loved her job

1/8/2006

HASKINS - Martha "Lollie" Brossia, 58, the former clerk for Wood County's Middleton Township, died of pneumonia Friday in St. Luke's Hospital after a bout with kidney disease and osteoporosis.

Mrs. Brossia was the township clerk from 2002, when she took over after the previous clerk retired, through 2003, when her term expired. The same year, she ran for the position, but lost the election and soon became ill, her husband of 38 years, Elmer Brossia, Jr., said.

"She loved the job, she wanted the job back, but lost out," Mr. Brossia said. Prior to her stint as the village clerk, Mrs. Brossia was utilities clerk for the village of Haskins, the job she had for about 17 years after raising her children. Her daughter, Marci Brossia, said Mrs. Brossia wanted to be the township clerk because she got attached to the people of Haskins and Middleton Township during the years she worked for the village.

A native of Toledo, Mrs. Brossia, whose maiden name was Gabel, attended Waite High School until her sophomore year, when she quit to take care of her sick grandmother.

She married Mr. Brossia in 1967. They had two children.

In her free time, Mrs. Brossia was a Girl Scout and Cub Scout leader when her children were growing up. She later enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and riding a motorcycle with her husband.

Mrs. Brossia was a member at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Haskins, where she was a Sunday school teacher and a vacation Bible school teacher.

Surviving are her husband, Elmer Brossia, Jr.; daughter, Marci Brossia; son, Elmer Brossia III; sister, Irwana Ray; brothers, Joey Gabel and Perry Gabel, and three grandchildren.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in St. Paul Lutheran Church, Haskins. Visitation will begin after 5 p.m. tomorrow in the Witzler-Shank Funeral Home.

The family suggests tributes to Arbors at Waterville.