Luella (Benz) Bruene - 1891-1989

BENZ, SOMMERS, BRUENE, TURNER, BAKER, GETHMANN, LIEDER, RICHARDS, POLHEMUS, THOMAS, LILLEY, ROACH, HOPKINS, PACKARD, BALDOCK, MCNETT, TODD

Posted By: Connie L. Ellis (email)
Date: 12/29/2010 at 17:27:25

SOURCE: Postville, Iowa HERALD, December 1989
Contributor: Connie Ellis (Not related)

Funeral services for Mrs. Luella Bruene were held December 7, 1989 at 9:00 a.m. in Community Presbyterian Church, Postville, Iowa. Rev. Terrance Hennesy officiated. Services were also held December 7 at 2:00 p.m. in the United Methodist Church, Gladbrook, Iowa with Rev. Steven Williams officiating. Schutte Funeral Service of Postville was in charge of arrangements. Burial was in the Gethmann Cemetery, Gladbrook, IA.

Luella Lydia Bruene was born March 20, 1891 to William and Amelia (Sommers) Benz near Northfield, MN. She died December 4, 1989 at the Community Memorial Hospital, Postville,IA. She attended the schools near her home. May 10, 1902 she was confirmed in the Prairie Creek Methodist Church and served as organist for several years before leaving to attend St.Paul's College, St.Paul Park, MN. She graduated in 1912 and taught in the rural schools near Gladbrook.

On January 26, 1916 Luella was married to Fred Karl Bruene. They lived on a farm near Beaman for 14 years. All of their 5 children were born there. After the death of a brother they moved to the family farm near Gladbrook. For the past six years she had been living with her daughter, Merle and her husband, Boyd Turner.

She was active in the Methodist Women's group and had served as president of the organization, as well as teaching Sunday School and helping with the church newsletter. While living in Postville she was a member of the Loyalty Sunday School Class and helped in the women's group. She knitted baby caps for the hospital auxiliary and participated in the Hunger Walk.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Fred in 1980 and a great-grandson, Mark Baker and two sisters, Clara Gethmann and Edna Lieder.

Surviving are 2 sons, Warren, Dallas, TX and Richard, Gladbrook, IA; three daughters, Doris Richards, Jackson, MS, Jean Polhemus, Spokane, WA and Merle Turner, Postville, IA. 20 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren; a sister, Gladys Benz, Iowa City, Iowa.

Casket bearers were grandsons and granddaughters: Julia Thomas, Jo and Tom Lilley, Denise and Bart Baker, Janna Bruene, Debbie and Matt Roach, Cindy and Don Hopkins, Charles and Melinda Richards, Don Richards, Jr., Fred and Susan Richards, Diane and John Packard, Ray and Cindy Polhemus, Carl and Kathy Polhemus, Donna Baldock, Lynn and Martin McNett, Burt and Patricia Polhemus, Bruce and Jane Turner, Marilyn Turner, Doug and Shelley Turner, Kent and Joanne Turner, Sandra and Owen Todd.