Lore VanBrocklin

Lore (Wicke) VanBrocklin passed away on October 27, 2025, in Bismarck, ND. Lore was born on October 29, 1932, in Youngstown, Ohio to Rudolph Wicke and Greta (Birlenbach) Wicke. Cremation has occurred and there will be a small celebration of life in the Chapel at Touchmark on West Century, Bismarck, ND on Monday November 3, 2025, from 1pm - 3pm.

She met the love of her life, Philip VanBrocklin while in college and they were married in July 1954. They had four children, Karl, Kathy, Ken and Karen.

They moved to Edina, MN in 1960 where they enjoyed camping every summer throughout northern MN. With four kids and two dogs they used their boat, pulled by the family station wagon, to haul all the camping gear. The whole family learned to waterski at the same time, and all quickly caught on except Lore. It took her a whole year before she mastered getting up out of the water without wiping out. She loved to waterski and on occasion she was known to strip down to her underwear, jump in and ski. Lore continued skiing into her 60's.

Lore was employed by the Edina School District as a special education teacher. Upon retirement, Lore and Phil moved to their lake cabin near Duluth, MN. There, they enjoyed having their kids and grandkids, along with their dogs and cats for weekends and week-long vacations. All participated in water sports in the summer which usually ended with a 5pm cocktail cruise around the lake (for the adults only!!). In the winter months there was always snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and ice skating. At Christmas time, everyone would head into the woods to cut down their Christmas tree. Christmas tree decorations were homemade consisting of popcorn garland, pinecones with glitter and construction paper ornaments with Lore overseeing all the special creations by the grandkids.

Lore and Phil started snow birding to AZ and eventually moved there permanently for the long Minnesota winters. They traveled in the summers to far off destinations and visits to their kids, grandkids and eventually great grandkids. Lore was also involved with her church, becoming a deacon and mentoring young adults through a scholarship program the church sponsors. Other activities Lore loved were hiking, bridge games and socializing with all their friends with BBQ’s, dinner out and card games.

After Phil passed in 2007, Lore eventually moved to Bismarck, ND in 2019 to be closer to her daughter, Kathy. There, she lived in an apartment at Touchmark. She made many new friends and was known in the building as 'Lightening Lore'!! She played bridge and organized "wine time" with her friends. Lore also spent time at Kathy's house in the country enjoying her many dogs, cats and horses. She even got talked into driving a pick up through a hay field one time, pulling a trailer while others stacked the hay. Lore had a special connection with Kathy's dog, Ozzie. He always came to see her in her apartment and was with her up to her passing.

Lore is survived by 4 children, 1 brother, 4 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.