BRAMMER, Elsa Margery (Carlen) 1915-2005
BRAMMER, CARLEN, MALMGREN, LUSSKY, HEINEMANN
Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 10/12/2014 at 23:19:09
[Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, Tuesday, October 18, 2005]
CEDAR FALLS - Elsa Margery Carlen Brammer, 90, of Cedar Falls, died Saturday, Oct. 15, 2005, at the Cedar Falls Lutheran Home.
She was born Sept. 15, 1915, in Evanston, Ill., daughter of Albin and Rosalie Malmgren Carlen (Swedish immigrants). She grew up in Wilmette. She married Edgar August Brammer (Gard) on March 4, 1943.
Elsa was a partner with her husband over four decades at College Hill Lutheran Church and Student Center in Cedar Falls, which was founded by Pastor Brammer and members in 1941. Elsa served in many roles, including directing choir, playing the organ and sharing in the lives of church families and hundreds of college students. Many couples later said Pastor and Elsa were their quiet matchmakers.
Elsa also taught French at Peet and Holmes junior high schools starting in the 1960s. As a youth she attended Grinnell College for two years, but she had to leave school and work in Chicago during the Depression. In mid-life Elsa went back to school at the State College of Iowa (UNI) and finished her teaching degree. She also did graduate work at the Sorbonne in Paris.
Elsa was an athletic school girl, a swimmer and skater, and a vibrant adult who loved music and loved people. To the end, one of her most frequent comments to others was, Youre a plus for me.
Survived include three sons, Richard (Mary) of Cedar Falls, Robert (Marti Anderson) of Des Moines and Ronald (Inger) of Vasteras, Sweden; six grandchildren, Amy Brammer Hilliard (Matt), and Molly, Gabe, Alissa, Jennifer, and Niklas Brammer; two great-grandchildren, Megan and Jake Hilliard; two sisters, Christina Carlen Lussky of Spring, Texas, and Rosalie Carlen Heinemann of Peoria, Ill.; and two foreign student sons, Osman Ertug (Cyprus) and Mats Sjoling (Sweden).
She was preceded in death by her husband, and her brother, Robert.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at College Hill Lutheran Church (following a family committal service at Fairview Cemetery.) The family will receive friends following the memorial service at the church.
Memorials may be directed to College Hill Lutheran Church and Brammer Student Center, Cedar Falls. Richardson Funeral Home, Cedar Falls, is in charge of arrangements.
Black Hawk Obituaries maintained by Karen De Groote.
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