CELEBRATION OF LIFE SERVICES: Tuesday, September 4, 2012 at 3:00 pm at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Spirit Lake.
VISITATION: One hour prior to service time at Turner Jenness Funeral HomeEmma Anna Bratland was born October 6, 1918 in LuVerne, Iowa to Micheal Julius and Amanda Matilda (Schmidt) Hinz.
Emma was united in marriage to Melvin Bratland on October 30, 1937 in Humboldt, Iowa. The couple made their home in Bode, Iowa, where they raised their family. She assisted Melvin in operating his farm drainage and tiling, shelling, and trucking business. Emma and Melvin moved to the Lakes area in 2008.
Emma was a member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Bode, where she was involved in the Women of ELCA. She was also active in the American Legion Auxiliary for over sixty years and was a Life Member of the Disabled American Veteran Auxiliary.
Emma loved to work with her hands and was very talented making crafts and quilts. She also loved the outdoors, flowers, bird watching, as well as cooking and baking.
Emma passed away Friday, August 31, 2012 at Hilltop Care Center in Spirit Lake at ninety-three years of age.
She is survived by her husband, Melvin of Spirit Lake Iowa, one daughter, three grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Her daughter Arlene Mae Ostrum resides in Spirit Lake, Iowa with husband, Jerry, Grandson Keith Ostrum resides in Spirit Lake with his wife Susy and daughter Maggie, Granddaughter Sharon Moritz resides in Houston, Texas with husband Henry and their three children Jenifer, Jonathan and Karla. Granddaughter Victoria Cary resides in Oakland, California. She is also survived by brothers, Walter and Norman Hinz; and sisters, Dora Tofteberg, Elsie Abel and Lois Palsic.
She was preceded in death by her parents Micheal and Amanda, her daughter Elaine, brothers Arnold and Clarence, and sisters Bertha and Luella.