Bernard Brom

Bernard William Brom was born November 12, 1945, to Raymond and Arwilda (Fobes) Brom, in Oskaloosa, Iowa. He was the sibling to older sister, Beth (Bruce) Manger. Bernard attended Pella Public Schools and graduated from Pella High School with the class of 1963.

Shortly after his high school graduation, Bernard worked for Elmer Hagens and developed his lifetime love of cars. Elmer was a great mentor on how to fix and repair vehicles and perhaps make them a little faster. Bernard later moved to Des Moines, Iowa, to purchase and manage a Shell Station for many years. After the Shell Company pulled out of the Des Moines market, Bernard purchased a Standard Oil Station on SW 9th Street in Des Moines and turned it around to be a very successful Standard Station.

During this time, Bernard took flying lessons to learn to fly, which was one of his greatest accomplishments. Bernard became very skilled in flying and proud to earn his instrument rating. He bought his own plane and spent many hours flying to Chicago, Illinois, or Denver, Colorado, going to auto auctions to purchase cars for his used car lot. One of Bernard’s fondest flying memories was rescuing Governor Terry Branstad who was stranded on Interstate 80 with mechanical problems. Bernard was asked to fly in and land on Interstate 80 while traffic was stopped to pick up the Governor and fly him back to Des Moines.

After Standard Oil Company began closing locations, Bernard closed his business and worked for various automobile dealerships in Des Moines, Iowa, Kirksville, Missouri, Waterloo, Iowa, and the Twin Cities area in Minnesota.

In 1985, Bernard decided to move back to Pella, to open his own auto repair business in the old Hagens Auto Repair building on North Main Street. In 1994, Bernard moved his business to the old Klyn Tire building on the west side of the square in downtown Pella. Bernard enjoyed many years of servicing cars and developing a successful used car business. Bernard enjoyed nothing more than helping people find the right vehicle for their needs. In 2011, Bernard decided to downsize

and move his business to South Main Street in Pella. After a few more years, Bernard decided it was time to retire and closed his business in 2013.

In 1991, Bernard met Ruth Muller who stopped by his business looking for a mechanic to service her new Honda Accord vehicle. The rest is history and they later married on August 28, 1993.

Before and during retirement, Bernard and Ruth enjoyed camping with different RVs around Lake Red Rock and traveling to destinations such as Mount Rushmore, Lake Superior area and traveling into Canada. They also enjoyed biking and rode the entire RAGBRAI route in 1992 and 1993. They also enjoyed riding their Harley Davidson motorcycle around Iowa on weekends. After retirement, Bernard and Ruth enjoyed many winters in their motorhome along the coast of Mustang Island, near Corpus Christi, Texas.

Bernard passed away on October 5, 2023, at the age of 77, at the Hospice of Pella Comfort House.

Bernard is survived by his wife of 30 years, Ruth Brom, his sons: Jason Brom and his wife, Violet of Altoona, Iowa, Joshua Brom and his wife, Cyrie of West Des Moines, Iowa, and Christopher Brom and his wife, Tira and their children: James and Simon of Austin, Texas; his sister Beth and her husband Bruce Manger of Everett, Washington, and their two children Charles and Mary and extended family.  

Bernard was preceded in death by his parents Raymond and Arwilda Brom, and his infant sister Mary Rae Brom.  

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