Elinora H. Brandner
1916-2020
Elinora H. Brandner, 104, of Medford, died on Tuesday, July 21, 2020 at Country Gardens Assisted Living in Medford, where she had resided for the past 11 years, most recently under the care of Hope Hospice. Memorial services for Elinora will take place at 1 p.m. on Friday, July 24 at Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church in Medford with Rev. James Krueger officiating. Interment of her cremated remains will be in Medford Evergreen Cemetery. Visitation will be at the church from 12 p.m. until the time of the service.
Elinora was born on May 10, 1916 in the town of Browning, the daughter of the late John Jakob and Alma Marie (Schoenfeldt) Frey. She attended Frey School in the town of Browning, was a graduate of Medford High School and a 1935 graduate of Taylor County Normal School in Medford. Her marriage to Herbert Julius Brandner took place on Feb. 22, 1941 in Independence and Herbert preceded her in death on Nov. 12, 2015.
Elinora’s husband Herb, was called into service in 1943, and for the next three years they lived in California, Kansas and Texas. They returned to Wisconsin in 1946 and their son, Dale, was born in 1951. In 1953 the family moved west to Bellingham, Wash. In 1957 they moved north to Ketchikan, Alaska and in 1959 they settled in Sitka, Alaska. Elinora worked at the National Bank of Alaska and First National Bank Alaska for 14 years, retiring in 1974. They moved to Bellingham, Wash. in 1979 and spent the next 20 years traveling all over the U.S., Canada and Mexico with friends and family. They would often return to Medford during the summers. They moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1999 and finally returned to Medford in 2009, settling into Country Gardens shortly after that. Elinora loved to travel in her motorhome with her husband, Herb. She was always very active in local clubs and volunteering. Elinora loved going into the Medford area schools to spend time with children. She was a member of Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church of Medford.
Elinora is survived by her grandchildren, Tara (Col. William) Gibson of Fairfax, Va. and Jared (Douglas Williams) Brandner of Anchorage, Alaska; and three great-grandchildren, Taylor, Ty and Lucy Gibson. Elinora was extremely lucky to have more nieces and nephews than could count, who always made the time to be involved in her life.
In addition to her parents and husband, Elinora was preceded in death by her son, Dale Gordon Brandner in 2018; and siblings, Viola Clausnitzer and Oscar, Hilbert, John and Ralph Frey.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be given to Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church in Medford in her name.
Hemer Funeral Service of Medford and Rib Lake serving the family. For online condolences, please visit hemerfuneralservice.com.
Paid Obituary 92171
