Jerome “Jerry” Broleman, 1915–1995

Jerome was born on 30 December 1915 at 4:30 p.m. at 3924 DeTonty Street, St. Louis, Missouri, to Joseph and Anna Broleman. As young boys, Jerry and his brother, Walter, were each trained to play musical instruments—Jerry played the clarinet.

Walter and Jerry had two jobs together. They were newspaper carriers with their father for the Globe Democrat and later as bellmen at the University Club in 1936.

On 17 March 1936, Jerry married Virginia Lange in Edwardsville, Illinois. Four years later they lived at 3922a DeTonty renting for $20 a month.

During World War II, Jerry served in the U.S. Merchant Marines in the South Pacific. On 9 July 1945, Jerry was one of the seamen signed on the S.S. James B. Duke at Hoboken, New Jersey, headed to New Orleans, Louisiana, and expected to sail on 1 September 1945 for foreign waters.

After the war, Jerry worked at Pevely Dairy Company for more than twenty-five years as a delivery man and belonged to the Teamsters Local 603. He drove a delivery truck pulled by horses in the beginning and then drove a more modern truck until his retirement. Pevely Dairy closed its doors at Grand Boulevard and Chouteau Avenue on Friday, 31 October 2008.

As a Moolah Temple Shriner, Jerry enjoyed performing for children in the hospital as a clown/magician and was a faithful member of the troop for many years in the Shriner parades.

His obituary appeared in the St. Louis Post Dispatch stating that he died on 24 February 1995. He was a member of Kirkwood Lodge 484 AF&AM, Temple Tyrians, Scottish Rite, Moolah Temple, and Past Patron Kirkwood Chapter 358 O.E.S.

Written by Judy Broleman
June 2020

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