Marie Brackey, 93, Albert Lea

Published 6:33 pm Saturday, October 5, 2013

Funeral services for Marie A. Brackey, 93, of Albert Lea, will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. The Rev. John Holt will officiate. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Private burial will take place at Hillcrest Cemetery. Online condolences are welcome at www.bayviewfuneral.com.

Marie died on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2013, at the Good Samaritan Society.

Marie Brackey

Marie Anna Katzung Brackey was born on Nov. 19, 1919, to Edward and Anna (Menge) Katzung at home. She was the youngest of 12 children.

Marie was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Kiester. She grew up in the Kiester area and attended Independent School District No. 85 in Faribault County.

Marie met her husband, Helmer O. Brackey, shortly after he returned from World War II. They were united in marriage on June 20, 1946, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Kiester. After their marriage they lived in Glenville for eight years before moving to Albert Lea.

Marie was employed in downtown Albert Lea for 19 years at the Albert Lea Bakery as a bakery salesclerk. After the bakery closed in the early 1980s, Marie enjoyed home life and morning coffee get togethers with neighbors. That lasted one year, when she was called by the owner of the newly built Donut Kettle and asked if she would come to work for him in his new business. She was ready to work again as she missed the friendships of working. Marie worked as a bakery salesclerk again at the Donut Kettle for 17 more years.

She retired in 1992 at the age of 73.

Marie was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. Her greatest joy was having family around and doing things with them. For years she tended to a huge vegetable garden and spent hours canning and freezing food for the family. She also loved flower gardening. Marie was an excellent seamstress, many evenings after work she would sit at her Singer Treadle sewing machine making outfits for Elaine and Marilyn. She also did beautiful handwork such as embroidery and crafts of all kinds, until her eyesight deteriorated.

She enjoyed large family gatherings and loved cooking and baking for all. She especially loved making lefse during the holidays (this Norwegian treat was taught to her by Helmer’s mother, Annie Brackey). A favorite pastime for both Marie and Helmer was dancing at many of the local ballrooms; The Monterey, the Terp and the Golden Bubble were their favorites. Marie enjoyed fishing trips with Helmer, Elaine and Marilyn and their friends. Marie was involved with the support group Al-Anon of Albert Lea for 23 years, where Helmer was an AA member. One of the highlights of her life was traveling with her family to Germany and visiting her family homeland for two weeks in Schakhulden, Germany. Over the years she also enjoyed numerous trips with the Senior Citizens Center to various cities and states. In later years, she especially enjoyed extended family trips to Alabama and Arkansas.  Marie was a member with various organizations including the Ladies Auxiliary to the VFW, American Legion and DAV, the Eagles Club and Friends at First at First Lutheran Church. She did volunteer work for the American Red Cross and American Cancer Society Crusades. She taught Sunday school classes at First Lutheran Church in Glenville and later at First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea where she was a member for more than 60 years.

Survivors left to cherish her memory are daughters, Elaine Marie (Dick) Rooney of Bella Vista, Ark., and Marilyn Ann (Bob) Sasser of Albert Lea;  grandsons, Michael R. (Sarah) Rooney, Mark R. (Beth) Sasser and Ryan A. Rooney; great-grandchildren, Will and Rob Sasser and Olivia and Finley Rooney; and many nieces and nephews.

Marie was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Helmer; grandson, Scott Dean Sasser; brothers, Louis, Manville, Harold and Arnold; sisters, Maletta Katzung, Amanda (Henry) Drescher, Martha (Thomas) Wipplinger, Irene (Alfred) Wigern, Ruby (Art) Becker, Lillian (Hap) Monson-Harbin and Alverta (Denard) Davidson. Blessed be her memory.

Her family would like to thank the caregivers at the Good Samaritan Society for the care and friendliness they gave and the Mayo Clinic hospice.

Memorials, if desired, may be given to Peace and Power at First Lutheran Church or to Mayo Clinic hospice.