Jeanette L. Braatz

Jeanette Braatz, age 94, passed away on Friday, March 28, 2014. Visitation will be held at Johnson-Hagglund Funeral Home in Litchfield on Monday, March 31, 2014, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, April 1, 2014, at 2:00 p.m. at the Cornerstone Church in Litchfield with interment immediately following the funeral at Ripley Cemetery. Jeanette Braatz, the daughter of Hollis and Bertha (Westell) Gibson, was born on April 10, 1919, near Mitchell, South Dakota, in Davison County. Jeanette married Andrew Braatz on February 27, 1937, in Plano, South Dakota, and they traveled to Minnesota to farm. They moved around working on various farms in the area and finally purchased a farm north of Grove City in Swede Grove Township in 1942. They retired from farming and moved to Litchfield in May of 1984. Her husband, Andrew, died February 15, 1997. Jeanette started working as a seamstress in 1968 at Litchfield Garment Factory and then as a seamstress for Wonder Alls of Paynesville. She then worked at Reinke's in Litchfield as a poly cutter. Jeanette also worked for several years as a home health aide and then at Emmanuel Nursing Home until retiring in 1990. Jeanette enjoyed family get-togethers, loved her flowers or watching birds, especially the cardinals, humming birds, and finches which would all visit the birdfeeders on her deck. Jeanette liked to do china painting, embroidery, sewing, quilting, and then giving her crafts as gifts to her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, and friends. She enjoyed reading and when she could no longer read the large print books, she learned how to operate a Kindle and was an avid reader. She kept in touch with family members on her cell phone. Surviving are her children, Roger (and Joanne) Braatz of Buffalo, Stan (and Dede) Braatz of Hendrickson, Donn (and Diane) Braatz of Osakis, John (and Fran) Braatz of Grove City, Jeanne (and Rich) Sellen of Grove City. She is also survived by 22 grandchildren and 41 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren. Jeanette was preceded in death by her parents, Hollis and Bertha; husband, Andrew; four sisters, Dorothy, Alta, Beulah, and Elsie; an infant brother; and one grandson, Mark Braatz. In lieu of flowers the family would like to have memorials given to the ""Manannah Century Church"" for ongoing upkeep. The church was formerly known as the Manannah Union Church, located in Manannah, where Jeanette was a long-time member. After the church closed it was re-located to the Meeker County Fairgrounds.Previous Events Visitation Monday, March 31, 2014 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM Johnson-Hagglund Funeral Home 316 Sibley Avenue South Litchfield, MN 55355 Visitation Tuesday, April 1, 2014 2:00 PM Litchfield Cornerstone Church Litchfield, MN