The Platteville High School Scholarship Fund recently received a $30,000 donation from Robert and Barry Brodbeck to establish the Helen Stoneman Brodbeck Scholarship Fund.
This endowed fund is to provide scholarships to worthy Platteville High School graduating students who desire to receive a higher education by attending a university or technical or vocational college full-time.
Bob and Barry Brodbeck wanted to help defray expenditures to individuals who wish to obtain further education and might otherwise not be able to make ends meet given the increasing costs of college.
“This scholarship fund not only allows us, in a small way, to assist local students but, simultaneously, provides us with a means to honor our mother,” said Bob Brodbeck.
“It is only fitting to honor our mother through this PHS Scholarship fund since her father, Erle Stoneman, had, among other careers, been a Platteville college professor, and our father, Richard, served on the Platteville school board for several years,” said Barry Brodbeck.
Helen Stoneman Brodbeck attended the Training School, Platteville High School, and the State Teacher’s College, receiving a bachelor of science degree at 19. She taught English for three years prior to her marriage to Richard Brodbeck in 1942. With their first store opening in 1950, Helen and her late husband founded Dick’s Supermarkets. She took an active role in the business.
Richard “Dick” Brodbeck died Aug. 20, 1983, and has similarly been honored by Bob and Barry through an endowed UW–Platteville scholarship fund. Helen Brodbeck lives in Platteville and will turn 93 this summer.
“She has instilled many deep-seated principles in people,” said Bob. “Her integrity, high moral standards and wonderful sense of humor, caring and sharing qualities, along with a never ending teaching of the English language is evident every day and are sound attributes for any student or individual to aspire to achieve.”
“Mom has always been a generous contributor, frequently anonymously, who has given to the Platteville hospital, churches, sports complexes, and the UWP Foundation, among others,” said Barry.
“It’s appropriate for our mother to be honored by way of this scholarship fund,” said Bob. “We couldn’t be more proud of her and we feel blessed to have her as our mother. She will be pleased to know that the income from the Helen Stoneman Brodbeck scholarship endowment is a legacy that will continue to assist many PHS students and help to make a difference in students’ lives, today and moving forward into the future.”
The PHS Scholarship Fund’s mission is to expand access to higher education for the students of the Platteville School District. The Fund fulfills this mission primarily by providing higher education scholarships for Platteville graduates to help them further their post-high school education.
The PHS Scholarship Fund is associated with the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin, a public charitable nonprofit Wisconsin corporation. Those who wish to contribute or establish an endowment fund should contact Barb Daus, Donor Services, 778-3344, barb@cfsw.org.
