By Chris Mayhew
Enquirer staff writer

CALIFORNIA, Ky. - More than five generations of the Brossart family have lived in Campbell County, and many longtime residents of the county knew Clem Brossart, said his son Norman of California, Ky.

Mr. Brossart, a farmer and an employee of Durkee Food Services for 35 years, died Thursday at St. Luke Hospital in Fort Thomas. He was 88.

"You'd find him doing something on a tractor, usually," his son said.

He raised beef cattle and tobacco and always had a garden, his son said.

He also worked for the former Frank's Tea and Spice Co. in downtown Cincinnati for a while, his son said.

Before his death, Mr. Brossart was the second-oldest member of SS. Peter and Paul Parish in California. His son said he attended church every week until a few years ago when he was unable to because of health reasons.

When he wasn't able to work full time on his farm, he spent time with his grandchildren, Norman Brossart said.

"He loved his grandkids. He played baseball with them here in the yard. He would go pitch to them and let them hit the ball."

When he was younger, he loved to go turtle hunting on Saturdays with his friends, his son said.

"That was the big thing back then."

He was a former member of the Kentucky Farm Bureau Board, and was a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters and of the Sun Valley Seniors and SS. Peter and St. Paul Seniors.

"To me ... he was just a great dad," his son said.

Other survivors include his wife of 67 years, Helen; another son, Lawrence, of California; seven daughters, Stella Von Essen of Indiana, Mildred Baynum of Alexandria, Joann Fornash of California, Joyce McClafferty of Wilder, Pam Bezold of Alexandria, Theresa Bezold of California and Andrea Shaw of California; 22 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren, and five great-great grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Sunday at Cooper Funeral Home in Grants Lick. A Mass of Christian burial will be t 10 a.m. Monday at SS. Peter and Paul Parish Church in California. Burial will be in SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery in California.

Memorials: SS. Peter and Paul Parish Building Fund, 2160 California Cross Roads, California, KY 41007; or American Diabetes Association, 1941 Bishop Lane, Suite 110, Louisville, KY 40218.