Annelda Baetz Dr. Brauchle

She was born, Norma Annelda Baetz, on October 11, 1926. Kit, Annelda, Dr. Baetz, Nana, Doc, Mrs. B., Nelda, and Mom were a few of her aliases. She rarely met a stranger and it was even rarer that someone remained a stranger. She was a woman far ahead of her time, one who was admittedly headstrong. She held fast to her convictions, was strong in her faith, was devoted to her family, and always spoke her mind.

Even as a very young child, Kit had a deeply ingrained love for all of God's creatures and she decided by age seven that she would become a veterinarian. Graduating from Burbank High School at age sixteen, she applied to Texas A & M School of Veterinary Medicine and was just as promptly rejected. Although she had the brains and the grades to reflect them, she just happened to be female and A & M was a "boys' only club" in those days. Undaunted, Kit applied to Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now known as Auburn University), and they were lucky to get her. By the age of 21, she had added her coveted DVM to her name and had the distinction of the third woman to graduate from the Veterinary School there. She was honored at Auburn University in 2007 in a ceremony naming her as a Distinguished Alumni.

After graduating from Auburn in 1947, Annelda returned to San Antonio where she established her veterinary practice, became the first woman veterinarian in San Antonio, and rekindled a friendship with Bob Brauchle, which turned romantic. Kit married Bob in 1948 and he remained the love of her life for the next 55 years. Herbert Sepper, escaping war-torn Yugoslavia at age 15, came to be a part of their family as their foster son. She and Bob went on to have three daughters and a son, all of whom she lovingly referred to as her "litter". Through the years, Kit somehow managed to maintain the delicate balance of mom and professional. In the 1950s this was an unheard of combination.

Annelda Baetz Brauchle remained dedicated to veterinary medicine by establishing her own veterinary practice and boarding kennel, and working for the San Antonio Animal Defense League and for the City of San Antonio. She was essential in establishing an animal control facility in Barbados, adept at lecturing on a variety of veterinary topics at many differing venues, racing pigeons, and adopting a variety of homeless "critters" along the way. Although she retired in 1989, she never relinquished her role as a veterinarian and as such, frequently gave advice to anyone who sought it.

Her family remained a source of immense pride and Kit would stop to tell anyone who would listen to her stories of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and, of course, tales of her latest critter.

Annelda is preceded in death by her husband Bob and her foster son, Herbert Sepper. She is survived by her four children, Phyllis and husband Mike Dodic; Deborah Brauchle and husband Larry Verner; Roberta and husband Gary Kothmann; Henry Brauchle and wife Becky; and foster son's wife, Helgard Sepper and her two sons, Thom and Pete. Her grandchildren and great- grandchildren are: Gayle and husband Ron Bogs, and children Caleb, Joshua, Hannah, and Aaron; Erin and husband Joe Jackson, and children Emma and Leah; Brandon Kothmann; Alyssa and husband Blake Biediger; and Jenne and Elle Brauchle.

Visitation will be at Porter Loring, 1101 McCullough Avenue on Monday, June 15th, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. The service will be at Concordia Lutheran Church, 16801 Huebner Rd., on Tuesday, June 16th, at 3:00 p.m. with interment to follow at Zion Lutheran Cemetery at 9944 Leslie Rd.