Obit: Braatz, Irene M. (1915 - 2013)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Braatz, Winter, Gluch, Parker, Larson, Breseman, Schmidt

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co, WI) 10/02/2013

Braatz, Irene M. (15 April 1915 - 26 September 2013)

Irene M. Braatz, 98, of Eau Claire died Sept. 26, 2013, at Clairemont Nursing & Rehabilitation in Eau Claire. Services will be held Saturday, Oct. 19, at 11 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Granton. Burial will be take place in the church cemetery. Cremation Society of Wisconsin is serving the family.

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co, WI) 10/16/2013

Irene M. Braatz, 98, of Eau Claire, formerly of Neillsville, died Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013.

Irene was born April 15, 1915, in Granton to Gottlieb Herman and Ida (Winter) Gluch. She received her elementary education in Granton, graduated from Marshfield High School in 1934 and graduated from Wartburg College in Waverly, IA, in 1938, with a B. A. Degree in business education. Irene taught business and coached girls’ basketball in Readlyn, IA, for two years and in Pittsville for one year.

She was married to Donald H. Braatz June 30, 1940. They lived in the Chili are for 15 years where they farmed. In 1955, they moved to Neillsville. She taught typing, shorthand, Bookkeeping and office practice at the Neillsville High School until retirement in 1980. She advised students on the high school newspaper, “The Warrior Post,” and also advised the Junior Prom. She and Don traveled extensively and spent winters in Apache Junction, AZ, and summers at their home on Mead Lake in Greenwood. In 1996, they built a new home in Eau Claire where they have resided since.

Irene and her family were founding members of Calvary Lutheran Church in Neillsville.

Irene is survived by her three children, Corrine (Kenneth) Parker, of Antioch, IL, Daryl (Marie) Braatz, of Greenwood, and Dennis Braatz, of Eau Claire; one brother, Leonard Gluch, of Houston, TX; four grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 73 years, Donald, in Aug. 2013; and two sisters, Lucille Larson and Vivian Breseman.

Memorial services will be held Saturday, Oct. 19, at 11 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, Hill Road, Granton, with Pastor Ken Schmidt officiating. Interment will be in the church cemetery with lunch following.

Family requests any memorials be donated to the Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Granton for perpetual care. The Cremation Society of Wisconsin is serving the family. Online condolences can be left at www.cremationsociety-wi.com.