BRAHMER, Virginia Ruth

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ 03/17/2006 Virginia Ruth Brahmer, daughter of Mehta and Robert Klemm formerly of the Town of Greenwood, Wisc., and beloved spouse for 57 years of Victor G. Brahmer of Lakeside, died March 5, 2006 after a long illness, progressive supranuclear palsy, in Lakeside. Virginia, after graduating from Medford High School in Wisconsin, attended nursing school and worked as a nurse at the Medford Hospital and Abbot Hospital in Minneapolis. After moving to the Southwest, Virginia continued to practice nursing in Albuquerque, N.M. and Winslow, where she was a special care nurse for the most critically ill patients, transported from Northern Arizona to Los Angeles on the Santa Fe Railroad. After moving to Whiteriver and then Lakeside, Ginny returned to school, at the age of 45, obtaining a double major degree in both history and education from the University of New Mexico. She received her Master's Degree in Special Education from Northern Arizona University. After college, she worked for 15 years as a Special Education Teacher at Alchesay High School on the Ft. Apache Reservation in Whiteriver. Virginia will be missed for the special care and compassion that she showed, throughout her life, for people in need. Her life was dedicated to caring for the sick and the disabled. She was a strong teacher and advocate for the disabled. Virginia had a strong sense of beauty. She loved travel and music, and, for a time, was a member of the Sweet Adelines in Winslow. Virginia instilled in her children a strong sense of caring for others, particularly those who are less fortunate. Throughout her life, Ginny always "heard the sound of a different drummer' and walked to a beat that was uniquely her own. She and her husband, Victor, adopted four children, and took in seven foster children from all races, including several Native American tribes, Acoma, Apache, Navajo, Potowotomie, and Zuni. Virginia is survived by her husband, Victor Brahmer of Lakeside; four children, Leroy Smith Brahmer, Albuquerque, N.M., Laura Marie Brahmer and Rhoda Haswood Lee of Lakeside, and Geoffrey Brahmer, Boston, Mass., as well as by six grandchildren. Living brothers and sisters include Fred Klemm (San Francisco), Eugene Klemm (Medford, Wisc.), Emery Klemm (Menominee Falls, Wis.), June Brandner (Medford), Earl Klemm (Milwaukee), and Myrna Scheller (Rhinelander, Wisc.). Deceased children include John Kaquatosh Brahmer, and long-time foster children, Rommel Kaquatosh and Winifred Holden. Deceased brothers and sisters are Hazel Russell, Ralph Klemm, and Oliver Klemm. Donations will be sent to the Hospice Organization of Lakeside. Arrangements were handled by Black's Mortuary of Show Low. Light a memory candle at www.virginia-brahmer.blacksmortuary.com.