Thelma Mae Brackhan

Thelma Mae (Battles) Brackhan was born on June 6, 1922 in San Augustine County, Texas, to Marvin and Jesse Della (Dillard) Battles. She was the second of six children. She passed away on January 24, 2013 at Saunders County Medical Center in Wahoo, Nebraska, at the age of 90 years, 7 months and 18 days. Raised in the Southern Baptist faith, Thelma was baptized during revival services at White Rock Baptist Church in Center, Texas on August 11, 1936 at the age of 14. She graduated from Camp Worth High School and attended Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. In her early 20’s she worked at a box factory in Beaumont, Texas and for a shipping company in Orange, Texas. On Nov. 24, 1945, she was united in marriage at First Baptist Church in Jasper, TX to Marvin Brackhan of rural Waco, NE. They began their married life farming near Waco, later moving to Utica and eventually to Cordova. She was confirmed into the Lutheran faith at St. John’s Lutheran Church at South Waco on Dec. 19, 1947. During their marriage, she was a homemaker, raising their 5 children while helping out with the family farm and automotive garage. After Marvin’s death in 1979, she worked at the local meat locker and later her daughter’s photography studio from which she retired at the age of 80. She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Cordova. Over the years, she taught Sunday School and was a member of the LWML where she enjoyed making quilt tops. She was a long-time member of the American Legion Auxiliary. Thelma loved being outdoors and enjoyed raising vegetables and flowers. The joy of her life was her family, which included 13 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. She is survived by her children: Roger (Deanna) Brackhan, of Fremont; Doug (Betty) Brackhan, and Byron Brackhan, all of Columbus; and Brenda (Don) Kranz, of Cordova; 13 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren; one brother, Frank Battles of Tyler Texas; 5 sisters-in-law and 1 brother-in-law. She was preceded in death by her husband Marvin Brackhan; son Gary; parents, Marvin and Della Battles; sister, Inis; and three brothers, D.L., J.L., and Clayton. Thelma was dearly loved and will be greatly missed. Funeral services are 2 p.m., Monday, January 28, 2013 at the St. John's Lutheran Church in Cordova, NE. Visitation Sunday, from 1 p.m. until 8 p.m. with family greeting friends from 2:30 p.m. until 5 p.m. at the Farmer Funeral Home in Exeter. Memorials are in care of the family.

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Thelma Mae Brackhan

June 6, 1922 - January 24, 2013