Kathryn Eva (Bruner) Mack

OBITUARY FOR KATHRYN EVA MACK
10/18/1919-12/12/2015
Kathryn Eva (“Katie”) Mack passed away peacefully at the age of 96 on Saturday, December 12, 2015 with many family members at her bedside.  She was the eighth child of John and Elizabeth Bruner, who farmed near Drake, North Dakota.  Her father, John, had come to America from Austria and Elizabeth’s parents hailed from Germany and Russia.  Katie had nine brothers and two sisters; her beloved baby sister, Agnes Keller, age 90, is now the sole survivor of that large family.
Katie was always a hard worker.  During high school, she clerked at JC Penney’s and after graduation completed Business College in Bismarck.  Katie taught for a year in a one-room schoolhouse, boarding with a family during the week and driving home with her proud “Pa” on the weekends.  Katie next sought adventure in Klamath Falls, joining her eldest sister, Elizabeth, and two married brothers.  While waiting for her fiance, Wendelin Mack, to return from World War II, Katie worked as a bookkeeper for the Lost River Dairy.  Katie was proud of how she traveled alone on the train all the way to Louisiana to visit her love while he was stationed there.  
Katie married Wendelin in November of 1945 after he returned from the Pacific Theater.  They rented a farm near Drake for one year, then decided to take their six-month-old daughter, Karen Ann, “Out West.”  They settled in Albany, then Lebanon, and later in Eugene, Oregon.
During the ensuing years, Gary W., Arlen Anthony and Todd John were added to the family and there were many holidays and summer outings spent with both Katie and Wendell’s siblings and families.
Despite being a tomboy as a girl, Katie became the ultimate housewife and good cook once she married.  Her hands were never idle; she kept an immaculate and comfortable home, sewed, gardened, canned, crocheted, embroidered and hand-stitched 15 quilts.  She also loved to read, play cards and enjoy her favorite television shows.
Katie always greeted visitors to her home with a welcoming smile and great food.  These visitors included her many North Dakota relatives and her three sons’ numerous friends, who made a habit of showing up when they smelled her homemade cinnamon rolls, cakes, pies and cookies.
After Wendelin retired, they moved to Hermiston to be near their daughter, Karen, son-in-law, George Anderson, and their three children:  Beth, Sally and Will.  Her sons all lived in Southern California by this time, so it was a natural fit.  The Anderson kids remember the many card games, sleep-overs, accordion music and meals they enjoyed with their beloved grandparents.   
After Wendelin died, Katie lived in her home until her health required more assistance and she very willingly moved into Hermiston’s Guardian Angel Homes.  She lived there for seven years.  During that time she had a steady stream of family and friends visit her and enjoy her delightful sense of humor and pithy remarks.
She was greatly loved.  
Katie is survived by her daughter, Karen (George) Anderson, sons Gary (Janice), Arlen (Joie), and Todd Mack; and by her grandchildren, Beth Anderson, Sally (Tyler Hansell), Will (Sarah) Anderson, Grant, Brittany, Lauren, Lindsay and Christopher Mack and by her three great-grandchildren, Hunter, Tyler and Anna Hansell.
Her life will be celebrated on Saturday,  February 13, 2015 at 10:00 A.M. at Burns Mortuary Chapel, 685 W. Hermiston Ave., Hermiston, OR 97838 followed by a luncheon at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 665 E. Gladys Ave., Hermiston, OR 97838. Private family inurnment of her cremains will be held at the Hermiston Cemetery.
Please send condolences at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston, Oregon is in care of arrangements.

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