Margaret M. Bratz, age 93, formerly of 2224 Menchalville Road in Cato, passed away on Monday, February 9, 2015 at St. Mary's Home at Felician Village and is now resting in the hands of our Lord.

Margaret was born on October 3, 1921 in Manitowoc, daughter of the late John & Anita (Groelle) Boeckman. Through Baptism, she became a member of God's family on December 9, 1921 and that faith was confirmed on April 6, 1936. Margaret was a graduate of Lincoln High School, class of 1940. On June 23, 1945, she married Walter Bratz at First Reformed Church, in Manitowoc. He preceded her in death on December 10, 1963. After his death, at the age of 45, she went and got her driving license. Margaret worked at Mirro until she met and married Walter. Being a city girl to marry a farm boy, Margaret was not afraid of work. She would milk cows, feed calves, pigs, and draft horses, hang the clothes on the line, and even was bumped in the rump by a billie goat when she bent over to grab more laundry to hang from the basket! After Walter died, Margaret worked at Brillion Iron Works, went on to Maple Crest Sanitarium in Whitelaw, and then decided go back to school for her CNA degree. She ended her career at the Manitowoc Health Care Center. Margaret was a faith-filled person and was a member of St. John St. James Ev. Lutheran Church in Reedsville, almost never missing a service, and was a member of the Reedsville Senior Citizens. She had a wonderful sense of humor. Margaret enjoyed crocheting, sewing, gardening, baking, and was known for her rolls. She also enjoyed watching birds, playing Bingo at St. Mary's every Thursday, had learned stained glass and quilting, and never went any place without her camera. Margaret was always willing to go to any party, especially if it meant being around her family and friends. She adored and cared for her grandchildren.

Survivors include her children: Connie (Delmare) Knier of Reedsville, Donna (Gerald) Stecker of Manitowoc, Cheryl (Charles) Stecker of Manitowoc, and Gregg (Vicki) Bratz of Cato; grandchildren: Christine (David) Martin, Kerry (Mark) Albright, Kurt Bratz, Sara (Tim) Schuh, Sonia (John) Collins, Jason (Sherry) Knier, Jessica (Mike) Pautz, Elizabeth (Ryan) Schroeder, Holly (Shane) Osborne, Jennifer (Brad) Kurtzweil, Karen (Matt) Oswald, Brian (Laura) Stecker, Linda (David) Mills, Susan Karatas, Andrew (Tatum) Stecker, William (Abbie) Stecker, Laura (Jay) Watson, Steven (Suzi) Bratz, and Katie (fiance' Matthew Brey) Bratz; thirty seven great-grandchildren: Stephanie, Justin, Kyle, Cassie, Bailey, Olivia, Rayna, Simon, Cole, Alyssa, Andrew, Elsianna, Vance, Jackson, Ella, Grace, Henry, Samuel, Madeline, Logan, Ana, Mara, Brielle, Eva, Lola, Lucas, Lucy, Arianna, Maisie, Miya, Malayna, Miles, Oliver, Liam, Rex, Sawyer, Syler, and one baby boy expected in June; one great-great-grandchild: Keagen and another baby girl expected in April; step-great-grandchildren: Cassie, Nile, Tristan, and Jacob; two sisters: Elda Fischer of Manitowoc, and Joanne Parsley of Kansas; two brothers and three sisters-in-law: Kenneth Boeckman, Donald (Diane) Boeckman, Delores Boeckman, and Ann Boeckman all of Manitowoc; godchildren: Erwin Bratz, Betsy Salm, Richard Coenen, Jason Knier, and Karen Oswald; nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Walter, her in-laws: Fred and Mary Bratz, one daughter: Patrice, one son: Ronald; two infant children; one granddaughter; 5 sisters and 10 brothers-in-law: Mildred (Ludger) Karman, Ethel (Orville) Liermann, Phyllis Boeckman, Caroline (Bert) Truttschel, Dorothy (Lester) Halverson, Norman Fischer, Emil (Lillian) Bratz, Otto (Ilene) Bratz, Frank Bratz, William Bratz, Robert (Vivian) Bratz; three brothers and three sisters-in-law: John (Marcella) Boeckman, Robert Boeckman, Richard Boeckman, Lucille Boeckman, Anna (Marvin) Diederichs, two infant siblings: Bernice and Fred, and one niece and two nephews.

Funeral Service for Margaret will be held at 12:00 (NOON) on Saturday, February 14, 2015 at St. John St. James Ev. Lutheran Church. Officiating at the service will be the Rev. Timothy Nommensen. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Friends may call at the church on Saturday from 9:00 a.m until 11:45 a.m.

Online condolences may be made.

Memorials may be addressed in Margaret's name to St. John St. James Ev. Lutheran Church and Manitowoc Lutheran High School.

Her family would like to extend a special thank you to every discipline and department at St. Mary's at Felician Village that assisted and cared for Mom over the years. It was such a comfort and peace of mind to know that our Mom was being treated like family.

"Mom, you were the heart and soul of our family, the love of our lives, and now you are our guardian angel, always taking care of us."

Published in Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter from Feb. 12 to Feb. 14, 2015