Marilyn Yvonne (Brown) Brokaw was born in Creston, Iowa on September 17, 1937 the daughter of Delman and Berniece (Douglas) Brown, July 20, 1945 a sister Charlene was born.
Marilyn graduated from Lenox High School in 1956. Her junior year she was voted Band Queen and had the privilege of accepting the award of “Band Over All” and the award was given out by that years Miss Iowa. She also took all of her solos to the state contest receiving 1’s in each of them. The American Legion chose her to attend the Girls State at Cedar Falls.
Marilyn had a really close friend Helen Ferguson. They went to high school and business school together. Later they found work in Topeka, Kansas where they both became teletype operators for Goodyear. In September of the next year they both got engaged. Marilyn and Jack Leckliter – Helen and Paul Brokaw. Marilyn and Jack were married September 15, 1957 while Helen and Paul followed in October.
Marilyn and Jack were blessed with four children: Jayne, twin boys Dwayne and Wayne and Joan. They lived in Bedford before moving to Denver, Iowa.
Marilyn worked at ASCS in Waverly, Iowa and later worked in a craft shop which she loved.
In 1983 Marilyn and Jack moved to the Lake of the Ozarks. Jack passed away two years later. Marilyn decided to move back to Lenox where she began working at Bonnie’s Flowers in Creston and Millies Flower Shop. In 1992 Marilyn married Paul Brokaw at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa.
In 1993 Marilyn and Jayne opened their own flower and gift shop, Playne Jayne.
Marilyn enjoyed her flowers, the white daisy being her favorite. She also enjoyed all needle crafts, embroidery, cross stich, needle point, knitting, crochet, smocking, rug hooking, oil painting, and tatting – most anything.
Left to cherish the memories of this wonderful, gifted lady is her husband of 33 years, Paul who loved her dearly, children, Jayne and Ron Thompson, Wayne Leckliter, Joan and Claire Rojohn, her sister Char (Mike) Heidt, her 7 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren, Paul’s children, Paula and Doug Horton, Tom Brokaw and Bob and Annie Brokaw, along with Paul’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Proceeding Marilyn in death are her first husband, Jack Leckliter; parents, Delman and Berniece Brown; son, Dwayne Leckliter; in-laws, John and Helen Leckliter and Tim Brokaw.
Memorial Service for Marilyn Brokaw, 88, of Lenox, Iowa will be held Tuesday, February 3, 2026 at the Lenox Presbyterian Church, at 11:00 AM. Inurnment will be held prior to the service at 10:00 AM at North Fairview Cemetery in Lenox. Memorials may be directed towards the family to be established in Marilyn's honor.
