Etta Marie (Schwanke) VanDeBrake

Etta Marie VanDeBrake, 82, of St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, Balsam Lake Township, passed away on Tuesday, February 14, 2023.  Etta was born on April 2, 1940, in Winona, MN the daughter of Loretta (Guetlzow) and Myron Schwanke.

In her youth, Etta attended school in Cochrane, Wisconsin, and then attended and graduated from the River Falls Teacher’s School.  She married Laverne “Sonny” “Dutch” VanDeBrake on August 5, 1961, in Cochrane, Wisconsin and to this union two children were born.

Etta worked as a cashier, homemaker, and then in production at Controlled Data for 25 years.  After retiring from Controlled Data, she continued to work in production at several medical manufacturing companies. 

She was a member of the Faith Lutheran Church in Balsam Lake where she enjoyed being involved in many different capacities.

She leaves to celebrate her memory, her children, Ed VanDeBrake, Amery, WI; daughter, Vicky (Dale) Schramm, New Richmond, WI; grandchildren: Angel (Abel) VanDeBrake-Galvan, Milliken, CO; Melissa (Justin) Benjamin, De Pere, WI; Christine VanDeBrake, Oak Hills, CA; Amy VanDeBrake (Mitch Wilson), Amery, WI; great-grandchildren: Anthony and A.J. Galvan, Kiarra and Nadyia VanDeBrake, and Ava and Nicholas Edward VanDeBrake-Roman and other family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Laverne VanDeBrake, brother, David Schwanke, and daughter-in-law, Melody VanDeBrake.

The funeral service for Etta will be held on Friday, February 24, 2023, at 12 Noon at Faith Lutheran Church in Balsam Lake with a visitation at the church from 10:00 A.M. until the time of the service.  Pallbearers will be Mike Wood, Mitch Wilson, Justin Benjamin, and Abel Galvan, Dale Schramm.  Please join the family for lunch in the church fellowship hall following the service.

The Kolstad Family Funeral Home of Centuria has been entrusted with arrangements.

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