Adeline M. Bratkiewicz 1924-2012

BRATKIEWICZ SLOTA WOJCIECHOWSKI

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/24/2012 at 14:07:26

Sioux City Journal
January 18, 2012

Adeline M. Bratkiewicz, 87, of Sioux City, Iowa, died Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012, at Sunrise Retirement Community in Sioux City.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. The Rev. Daniel Guenther will officiate. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with a Catholic Daughters of America rosary at 4 p. m., the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a parish vigil service at 7 p.m., at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home.

Adeline was born in Nowa-Wies, Poland, on June 13, 1924, the daughter of Hugo and Martha (Slota) Wojciechowski. She lived in Poland until the family was sent to Bamburg, Germany, during World War II.

Adeline married Ignacy Bratkiewicz on Aug. 4, 1946, in West Germany. The family immigrated to the United States in 1949 and lived in Oyens, Iowa, where they stayed for a year before coming to Sioux City. Their great love of this country was ever present as they became United States citizens in 1956.

Her occupations included positions at Armour and Co., Boyer's Provisions, and The Alzheimer's Association, where she retired at age 83. She was originally a member of St. Francis Catholic Church and currently belonged to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. After her retirement, she became active with the Senior AIDES Program and the ASID Senior Companion Program. She worked at the WCCAA and Siouxland Alzheimer's Assocation for more than 15 years. In 2004, she was recognized as a Siouxland Treasure for her community service by the Senior Helpmate Program. She also did avid volunteer work, including Catholic Daughters, Carmelite Guild, Rosary Society, Pulaski Club, and Queen of Peace. She loved spending time with her friends and family.

She was a lifelong learner as evidenced by earning her general education diploma at age 70. She was a spirited story teller, a superb cook, and most importantly a loving mother and grandmother. The family is grateful for the loving care she received at Sunrise and greatly appreciates the help provided by Hospice of Siouxland.

She is survived by her sons, Lou (Connie) Bratkiewicz of Sioux City and Dr. Rick (Mary Ellen) Bratkiewicz of West Des Moines; a daughter, Dr. Linda Bratkiewicz of Clive, Iowa; four grandchildren, Jeff (Heidi) Bratkiewicz, Anne Bratkiewicz, Emily Bratkiewicz, and Mallory Bratkiewicz; two great-grandsons, Eli and Sam; and a niece and nephew, Norbert and Ruth Wojciechowski of Bamburg, Germany.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ignacy Bratkiewicz; her parents; an infant son, John; and two brothers.