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My life has been blessed. I married my favorite high school sweetheart, Keith Brock, in 1964 after trying to cram four years of studies at IU into two full years, including summer sessions. (It didn't work!) We moved into married student housing at Purdue, neighbors to Betty (Andrews) and Chuck Brown. (Betty and I were in each other's weddings that summer). Keith graduated with a degree in Industrial Management in 1965 then we returned to IU to complete my studies
We were in the process of buying out a State Farm Agency in our community, when my father-in-law needed help on the farm. We came home and have been here since that time. We bought our own farm in 1970 and moved to our 100 plus year old, two-story-farm home, where we still live. We have two children, Lisa Marie (1967) and Charles David (1969).
David came home to join the farming operation after receiving an associate degree in agribusiness at Vincinnes. Together we farm 3,000 acres of corn, soybeans and hay and raise angus/hereford beef cattle. David and his wife, Kris, have two precious children, Andy - age four and Katie - age 2, and live just a mile from us. Kris has put her nursing career on hold to raise their children. Lisa and her husband, David Wyeth, farm in the North Salem area. She has been employed with Anthem since graduating from ISU.
I love living on the farm and having our children and grandchildren close by. At the time we moved to the farm, Keith and his dad taught me to drive a tractor, plow and disc the fields. I drove grain trucks to the mill during harvest, had a garden and canned much of our food. We picked blackberries in the woods to freeze, make into jelly or bake in cobblers and pies.
As a little girl, I dreamed of one day teaching in the school where I attended first and second grade. I enjoyed teaching three years of kindergarten in the Stilesville School. I was a 4-H leader for several years, did a lot of substitute teaching and have taught Sunday School for over thirty years. Keith and I were youth sponsors for nearly twenty years. We now attend the Plainfield Christian Church where I teach a women's class. Keith has coached little league basketball teams for years and has been so good at it. More recently he has been coaching the junior high girls.
 Sierra Summer |
I feel very fortunate that I could stay
home with my family. After our children went away to college, I received
a call from DePauw University asking me to consider working for the Annual
Fund. I spent eight exciting years with DePauw traveling and visiting
alums all over the United States raising money for the small liberal arts
college. I retired in 1997 to help our daughter with her wedding preparations
and to take care of my mother and Keith's parents. Mom recuperated in
our home for three months after a month in the hospital. We were caring
for Keith's parents, when my Dad was diagnosed with lung cancer. He died
in May of 2000. Keith's mother also died in May. We are the primary caregivers
for Keith's dad and spend as much time as possible with my Mom, who is
back in her home in Plainfield.
I treasure family times and enjoy anything outdoors: photography, gardening,
backpacking (in the Smokies, Cascades, Rockies, Sierras, Alaska, New Zealand
and Europe), canoeing, traveling as well as carpentry and woodworking,
reading, writing, studying and teaching. I have journaled since I was
a freshman in high school. I enjoy writing books for my grandchildren.
We seek to serve the One who created us and saved us and give Him thanks
for all of life trusting Him with all that is to come.
God bless you all.
I look forward to seeing you in September.
 The Family at Christmas |
