Gale N. Brauch

Gale Norman Brauch was born May 11, 1937 to Irvin and Henrietta (Novotny) Brauch of rural Odell.  He was the fifth child of six children.     He passed away on June 13, 2019 at the family farm near Gilead.    Gale was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Diller, Nebraska.  He was united in marriage to Myrna Bodtke at Trinity Lutheran Church in Gilead on August 3, 1958.  This union was blessed with two children, David and Sheryl.  He was a member throughout his married life at Trinity Lutheran, Gilead and Gladstone, Faith Lutheran Church Hebron, and Grace Lutheran Church Fairbury.

Gale graduated from Diller High School in 1954, Fairbury Junior College and Peru State College with a bachelor’s degree.    He was a teacher and coach for many years at Barneston, NE and Washington, Norway, and Republic, KS.   After early retirement from teaching to farm full time, he was asked to work part time for the Hebron office of the Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation Service.

He is survived by his wife Myrna of 60 years, son David Brauch, daughter  Sheryl and Elton Schoenrock, grandsons Ethan Vonderfecht, Thomas Vonderfecht, Jonah and April (Maschmann) Vonderfecht, and Caleb Vonderfecht and fiancée Brooke Eisenhauer.   Also brother Neil Brauch and sisters Shirley Nickeson and  Beverly and Frank  Jurgens, brother-in-law Robert Brungardt and many nieces, nephews, and friends and neighbors.

Gale is preceded in death by his parents and his in-laws Edward and Ida (Aufderheide) Bodtke,  sisters Dona Brungardt and Sondra DeWitt, sisters-in-law Bev Brauch and Luella Bauer, brothers-in-law Bill Nickeson, Jerry DeWitt, Alvin Onnen, and Oscar Bauer.

Honoring their uncle as pall bearers are Bill Nickeson, Dennis Jurgens, Randy Brungardt, Todd Brauch, Terry Brauch, Russell Timmerman, Ryan Timmerman, Rick Timmerman, Doyle Onnen, Neal Onnen, and Mark Onnen.

Funeral services will be Monday, June 17, 2019 at 10:30 at Grace Lutheran Church Fairbury with Pastor Glenn Meyer officiating.  Burial will be at Grace Lutheran cemetery rural Gladstone.  The family will greet friends at the funeral home Sunday evening from 6:30 – 8:00.   Memorials have been established to the family’s choice.  Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home in Fairbury is in charge of arrangements.