Memorial services for Elinora will take place at 1 PM on Friday, July 24 at Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church, 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 PM until the time of services at 1 PM.
Elinora was born on May 10, 1916, 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, Medford. Her marriage to Herbert Julius Brandner took place on February 22, 1941 in Independence, WI & Herbert preceded her in death November 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, Washington. In 1957 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, Washington 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.
She is survived by grandchildren, Tara (Col. William) Gibson of Fairfax, VA & Jared (Douglas Williams) Brandner of Anchorage, AK and 3 great-grandchildren, Taylor, Ty & 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. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son, Dale Gordon Brandner in 2018, siblings, Viola Clausnitzer, Oscar, Hilbert, John & Ralph Frey.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be given to Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church, Medford in her name. Hemer Funeral Service of Medford and Rib Lake serving the family. For online condolences, please visit hemerfuneralservice.com.
