Lorraine Clerice Brueggemann (Meyer)

Lorraine was born on her family’s farm, near Crystal Lakes, Wisconsin on June 8, 1927 to Elmer Meyer and Clara (Doms) Meyer. Her mother encouraged her to expand and grow above and beyond farm life. At the tender age of 14 she moved into nearby Westfield, Wisconsin and attended and completed high school on her very own.

Following high school she went to Central State Teachers College (now the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.) She graduated in 1949 and embarked on a career in teaching at Lutheran High School in St. Louis, Missouri.

Lorraine first met Eugene Brueggemann at Stevens Point where he was serving a pastoral internship at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. He returned to the seminary in St. Louis which enabled them to form the relationship which resulted in their marriage in Westfield, Wisconsin on August 5, 1951, a relationship which would last over 62 years.

Lorraine served as an invaluable assistant to her husband/pastor in both parish and campus ministries in Smithtown, Long Island, Kent, Ohio, Evanston, Illinois, and Denver and Littleton, Colorado. After retirement they continued to serve part-time in Fort Collins and Boulder, which brought them to Longmont.

Lorraine focused on motherhood, as they started a family, but frequently taught part-time and night school to keep her hand in her professional realm. She was an exceptional cook and marvelous hostess. Lorraine opened her home and heart to all who passed by, and was beloved by all who knew her. Her love, faith in God and tenacity were a thing to behold. Active in her church, she was a part of her Altar Guilds, Church choirs and as a Sunday school teacher. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Boulder.

Surviving are her husband Gene of Longmont; son Tom Brueggemann of West Hollywood, California; daughters Karen (Mark) Williams of Capistrano Beach, California; Louise Brueggemann of Forest Park, Illinois; Miriam (John) Nuney of San Jose, California and Priscilla Murphy of Boulder. She is also survived by two granddaughters MacKenzie and Kaley Murphy of Boulder; and step-grandchildren Kristin, Brad and Kevin Williams. Surviving sisters and brothers include Arthur and Kenneth Meyer of Madison, Wisconsin, Frances Bloomer of Bella Vista, Arkansas, Barbara King of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and brother-in-law Rae Spirra of Edgerton, Wisconsin.

A funeral service celebrating the grace of God and Lorraine’s life of love will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 8th at Trinity Lutheran Church, Boulder. Visitation will be held at the church before the service beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Contributions may be made to the Trinity Lutheran Church, c/o Howe Mortuary, 439 Coffman St., Longmont, Colorado 80501.