Tag: Community

Daviess-Martin County REMC is saddened to announce the passing of a valued member of the REMC family. Robert Lawrence “Larry” Brochin, 86, of Washington, Indiana, passed away June 14, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of faith, service and devotion to his family and community.

Larry was born Nov. 19, 1939, in Washington, Indiana, to Maxine (Downey) and Robert Henry Brochin. He graduated from Washington Catholic High School in 1958 and later married the love of his life, Mary “Joyce” (Mangin) Brochin, on Nov. 22, 1962. Together, they shared many wonderful years filled with love, laughter and adventure.

A proud patriot, Larry honorably served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps. Following his military service, he enjoyed a long and successful career with Daviess-Martin County REMC, serving for 36 years from 1966 to 2002. Larry started as a lineman and later worked his way into management. His contributions, strong work ethic and commitment to our members helped shape our cooperative and will not be forgotten.

Larry also had a heart for mentoring young people and was well known for his years as a cross-country coach at Washington Catholic High School and as a girls middle school basketball coach. His love for the Washington Catholic School System extended far beyond the classroom and the playing field. As a devoted supporter of the WCS community, he was always ready to volunteer, encourage students and help wherever he was needed.

Larry enjoyed the simple joys of life and the people he loved most. He found happiness in fishing, camping, water-skiing and traveling the country alongside Joyce. As a former member of the Washington Boat Club, he and his family spent many summers camping and making memories with friends.

His faith remained a guiding force throughout his life. Larry was a longtime member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and later became a devoted member of Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church. He was also a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus and a member of the IBEW.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, June 18, 2026, at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church, with Father Paul Ferguson serving as celebrant. Visitation will be held at the church from 9 a.m. until the time of Mass. Burial will follow at St. John Cemetery. Military graveside rites will be performed by the Washington VFW and American Legion in honor of his service to our country.

Ed Lee Mortuary is handling funeral arrangements.

Summer is in full swing, and students from area schools are enjoying their time away from classes. Whether biking or fishing at West Boggs Park or spending time at the municipal pools in Loogootee and Washington, they are likely to encounter electrical infrastructure, which makes it important that they understand the real dangers associated with electricity.

That’s why, before classes ended for the 2025–2026 school year, Daviess-Martin County REMC (DMREMC) was invited to share power line safety information with students at a local elementary school and at an educational camp.

The first stop was Barr-Reeve Community Schools, where journeyman linemen Jarrett Arvin and apprentice lineman Jeremy Maddox spoke with a group of second-grade students about basic power line safety. Both emphasized the importance of staying aware of their surroundings, including what is above and below them while playing outside.

The tabletop demonstration featured a series of real-world scenarios illustrating what can happen when someone encounters a live power line. Examples included downed poles caused by fallen trees, kites becoming entangled in power lines, and the dangers of digging near underground utilities.

Students remained highly engaged throughout the presentation, especially when viewing live electrical arcing safely performed by DMREMC-trained professionals.

The following week, journeyman linemen Dwain Jolliff and Tyler Bostock visited a group of young men during the Ebenezer Boys Camp at Camp Illiana. These students had spent part of their time at camp learning basic electrical concepts, which were reinforced through the safety demonstration.

The campers asked many thoughtful questions, creating a highly engaging learning environment for everyone involved. Questions ranged from utility location procedures to what it takes to pursue a career as a lineman.

By connecting real-world demonstrations with hands-on learning, DMREMC continues to reinforce the importance of electrical safety and help students build awareness that can last well beyond the summer months.