Dolores Ann Bremer

After 84 years of a life well-lived, Dolores Ann Augusta (Briggs) Bremer can finally say her work here is done. She went home on Wednesday, February 8th, 2017 at the Good Shepherd Hospice house in Manhattan after a short battle with cancer.

Dolores was born June 10, 1932 in St. Louis, Missouri to Dorothy (Strauss) Briggs and Leland Briggs. She was their oldest and only daughter, and a sister/mother to her four younger brothers. She was baptized at LCMS in Overland, Missouri and attended her first years of grade school in Jonesburg and Florissant, MO. When she was in the 4th grade, her family moved to Junction City to be closer to her Grandma and Grandpa Strauss.

She graduated from Junction City High School with the class of 1950. After high school, she worked as a bookkeeper for Central National Bank, and soon met Leonard Bremer while he was stationed at Fort Riley. They wrote to each other for a year while he was overseas, and he returned to marry her on January 24, 1954 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Junction City.

Leonard and Dolores had three children of their own, and later adopted four children that they treated as their own. Leonard was a carpenter and Dolores was primarily a homemaker, although she was always busy doing some type of interesting and useful work. She started the Early Childhood Center at Immanuel Lutheran School and taught pre-school there for five years. Additionally, she was a Home-Child Visitor for the Geary County Health Department for many years, overseeing the well-being of new mothers in the area. Most importantly, she was proud of the fact that her and Leonard were able to serve as foster parents for many years. They temporarily took in children who needed a loving home, and by doing this they changed many lives for the better.

Leonard and Dolores were proud and active members of Immanuel Lutheran Church of Junction City. Dolores served as a Sunday School and VBS teacher, and also as the Sunday School Superintendent for many years. Additionally, she sang in the choir, sat on the Board of Evangelism, and on the Lutheran Women's Missionary League. She was the LLL Treasurer, and a Christian Growth Chairman. The ways in which she served the church and the community would require a ledger. Suffice it to say that she had a deep love for everyone in the church, and for every single person that she ever met. She never turned away a stranger or anyone in need, and truly set the example for how to live as a Christian.

Dolores is survived by her children - Eileen (Doug) Honeman of Hooker, OK; Ruth (Gene) Bammes of Topeka, KS; Mark Bremer of Shawnee, KS; Dr. Kim Hodge of Junction City; Lynne Bremer of Junction City; and Eric Bremer and Tracy Sender of Junction City.

She is also survived by her grandchildren - Jordan (Randas) Honeman; Kyle (Jandra) Honeman; Dr. Benjamin (Stephanie) Bammes; Dr. Nathan (Eva) Bammes; Sam (Emma) Bremer; Katie Bremer; Chad and Brad Hodge; Amber (Clay) Crocker; Michelle Whitefoot; Zachary and Aaron Johnson; and Jeffrey Sender.

Finally, Dolores is survived by her brothers - Dr. John (Bernice) Briggs of Granite, OK; Glenn (Barbara) Briggs of Lenexa, KS, and Howard (Donna) Briggs of Junction City and Sister in Law, Delores Briggs of Junction City. She is also survived by 13 Great Grandchildren, as well as many cousins, in-laws, distant relatives and deeply loved friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and by her brother, William "Bill" Briggs in 2014. She was also preceded in death by Leonard, her husband of 47 years,

We will miss her laughter, her joy, and the beautiful presence that she radiated. We will never forget her stories, and the kindness and strength that she taught to those that were so fortunate to know her and to love her. Above all, we are grateful for the time that she was here with us.

The Funeral Service will be held at 10:00am on Tuesday, February 14th at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, 630 S. Eisenhower, Junction City. Vistation will be on Monday, February 13th from 6-8pm at Penwell Gabel Funeral Home, 203 N. Washington, Junction City.

In her honor, she has requested that memorial contributions be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church, the Lutheran Hour Ministries, and to the Good Shepherd Hospice house in Manhattan.