Name of Deceased: Thelia Belle Brack Age: 91
Date of Death: August 11, 2013 Place of Death: Sterling House of Great Bend, Great Bend, Kansas
OBITUARY INFORMATION
Thelia Belle Moore Brack was born December 13, 1921 on a farm southeast of Dundee, KS to Robert Warren and Hellena Unruh Moore.
She attended Barton County rural school, graduated from Pawnee Rock High School. Attended Fort Hays Teachers College, and taught in rural schools in Barton County for 5 years.
She was united in marriage to Vernell F. (Shorty) Brack of Otis, July 25, 1945, at the Pawnee Rock New Jerusalem Church. He passed away November 12, 1996. To this union three children were born, Brian Jay and his wife Linda Brack of Otis, KS, Charlotte Ann Hett, Boston, MA, and Cherie Rae Bahr, Great Bend, KS.
She was a homemaker until 1958 when she became a bookkeeper at Fred Brack Motor Co. until it closed in 1966. Thelia was instrumental in starting a public library in Otis and supported it until 2007 when she left Otis. She was a 4-H Project Leader, Community Leader of Rush County 4-H and served on the Rush County Fair Board. She was active in the Otis United Methodist Church for 62 years, teaching Sunday School, serving on various church boards and circles, and participating many years in the area district Methodist meetings and retreats and UMW. She was a 60 year old member of the VFW, life member of Georlitz-Schlegel VFW, Ladies Auxiliary until its disbandment, life member of Ex-POW Chapter of Western, KS, and life member of DAV, Great Bend. She served on South West Kansas Area on Aging board, Sub-district and County council of Aging, served 2 terms on CKLS Board and various other community activities in the Otis and Rush County area. She was also a member of the Senior Center of Otis. She took it upon herself to be the “unofficial’ welcome wagon to any new people of Otis, greeting them with a smile, handshake and some homemade goodies. She always seemed to be the go to person whenever something happened in town, whether it be someone having a medical emergency, no electricity in town from a blizzard and opening her home for meals to the townspeople because we had a gas heat and stove, or having the quilting bee or Auxiliary Rag Tearing group. She was a caretaker to many and a friend to all. All while running a family of 5 and maintaining a large garden and canning every season. She was also a successful Avon saleslady for over 27 years.
After moving to Great Bend in September 2007, she became a member of the First Methodist Church, Knight Pitts Circle, Silver Cougar Booster Club and active reader of as many books as she could before her eyesight gave out.
She is also survived by seven grandchildren: Kimberly and Ki Gamble, Greensburg, KS, Kelly and Wendy Brack, Great Bend, KS, Ben Hett, Topeka, KS, Melanie and Barry Brant, Andover, KS, J.J. and April Brack, Plainville, KS, Joey and Anita Bahr, Great Bend, KS, and Camie and Kevin Hlavaty, Olmitz, KS. Eleven great grandchildren, Kasey and Katelynn Gamble, Greensburg, Jayce and Koy Brack, Great Bend, Aubrie and Blaine Brant, Andover, Ava, Vincent and Ruby Brack, Plainville, Jenna Hlavaty, Olmitz.
One sister, Arvella and John Gutman, Brandon, Vermont, Sister-in-law Mary Louise and Tom Shook, Liberal, sister-in-law Lois Brack, Lakewood, CO, and brother-in-law Al Kroeker, Great Bend, KS, and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Vernell F. (Shorty), son-in-law, Ron Bahr, great grandson Tanner Hlavaty, and sister, Eldean Kroeker and brothers-in-law, Elman Brack, and Gary Brack.
SERVICE INFORMATION
Funeral Service: Thursday, August 15, 2013
Time of Service: 10:30 am
Place of Service: First United Methodist Church in Great Bend
Officiant: Rev. Lennie Maxwell
Interment: Otis Methodist Cemetery, Otis, Kansas, at 2:00 pm
Visitation: 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 14, 2013, with the family receiving friends from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm, at Bryant Funeral Home
Memorial Fund: Tanner J. Hlavaty Scholarship Fund., in care of Bryant Funeral Home
Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net
Arrangements by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, Kansas 67530