Galetta B. Brandau, 92, of Wilton died Thursday, June 30, 2016, at the Sunset Ridge Assisted Living Home.
She was born July 1, 1923, to Herman and Clara (Schindler) Buchholz in the town of Wilton. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. She attended the Wilton Grade School and was a member of the Wilton High School graduating class of 1941.
On Nov. 15, 1941, she was united in marriage to Leonard Brandau at St. Jacob’s Ev. Lutheran Church in Norwalk. He preceded her in death June 2, 1997. Galetta and Leonard farmed most of their married life. To this union, five children were born, and Galetta loved them very much. Her grandchildren were a big part of her life. She enjoyed babysitting them. She loved to sew and made many quilts for them. She had to keep them warm. Galetta also made many quilts for her church. She had a special talent for cooking and baking, and some of her specialties were her apple slices, her cakes, and her macaroni salad. Galetta was a devoted wife and a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother.
She is survived by her five children, Judy (Bill) Bever of Janesville, Sandra (special friend Bill Tyler) Parish of Tomah, and James (Carol), Jan (Phyllis) and Lori (Richard) Brueggen, all of Wilton; 16 grandchildren, Scott (Shannon) Bever and Tracy (Jon) Frank, Jeffrey (Sara) Parish and Bryan Parish, Douglas (Jennifer), Jaimie (her friend Clay Tester) Zimmerman, Brad (Erinn) Brandau, Patty (her friend Chris Mlsna) Dwyer, Dan “Boone” (Deb) Brandau, Kara (John Udulutch) Brandau, Greg (Jessica) Brandau and Kay (Guthrie) Thurston, Adam (his friend Ally Wiedl) Brueggen, Andy “Butch” (Leah) Brueggen, Amber Brueggen and Angel Brueggen; 25 great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; a sister, Joan Foley of Shell Lake, Wis.; a brother-in-law, Wayne Brandau of Tomah; a sister-in-law, Geraldine Brandau of Tomah; and nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Verlyn and Gordy; and a sister, Delores Drews.
A funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Sunday, July 3, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 401 Mill St., Wilton. Pastor Kristin Wendland will officiate. Burial will in the church cemetery.
Relatives and friends are invited to call at the church on Saturday from 4–8 p.m. and on Sunday from 12 p.m. until the time of the service. The Smith-Nelson Funeral Home of Wilton is assisting the family with the arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to www.sonnenburgfamilyfh.com.
