BRAMLET, Ivan L.

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Friday, April 27, 2012 Ivan L. Bramlet, 96, of Chino Valley, Ariz., born Dec. 18, 1915, in Wallowa Valley, Ore., passed away April 22, 2012 in Prescott, Ariz. Cremation will take place at the Bradshaw Crematory in Prescott Valley. Arrangements by Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home. ~~~~~~ The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Thursday, May 17, 2012 Ivan L. Bramlet, 96, of Chino Valley, Ariz., graduated into eternal life with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on April 22, 2012. Ivan was the youngest son of William Henry and Mary Jane Bramlet, whose brood included five sons and four daughters. Raised in southeast Washington and northeast Oregon, Ivan helped his father and older brothers in farmwork and herding until he joined the Army at age 21. He spent most of his nine years of military service in Alaska, a state that he always remembered fondly. During World War II, the Japanese invaded the U.S. at Attu in the Aleutian Islands, and American forces battled to the death to regain possession of the territory. Ivan was one of the unsung heroes of the Battle of Attu, volunteering to carry ammunition in a backpack from the ships to the front lines, about 6 miles, several times a day and under enemy fire until the battle was won. He was then shipped back to the states and on to Europe, where he landed on the beach at Normandy, D-day plus 100, meaning that his unit set foot on French soil 100 days after the famous invasion. From there, he fought his way across the Brest Peninsula into Germany where he was wounded by German fire. Upon returning home to Walla Walla, Wash., in 1945, he met a beautiful church secretary and elementary school teacher named Ione McQuown, whom he soon married. Ivan and Ione were married for 51 years, before his helpmate passed into glory in March of 1998. Early in his civilian years, Ivan dreamed of becoming a minister and entered college at Northwest Christian College in Eugene, Ore. But having only finished the eighth grade in formal education, he finally had to accept that missing a high school education had hobbled him, and he moved on with his life, working to support his family as a general handyman, postman and school custodian. When he found employment was hindered by his lack of formal education, Ivan proceeded to get his GED. In 1973, the congregation where Ivan worshipped chose to ordain him as a pastor, fulfilling his long dream. Though he never held a paid pastoral position, he was the Chaplain of American Legion Post #40 in Chino Valley for several years. Ivan outlived all of his siblings, finally passing at the VA Medical Center Hospice, where he was known as the "Energizer Bunny." He is survived by his daughter Roberta of Chino Valley, and son Charles and daughter-in-law Lorraine of Phoenix. He is also survived by his grandson Daniel of Sherman Oaks, Calif., and granddaughter Annette and husband Matthew Adams of Arizona City. Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 20, 2012, at the Northern Arizona VA Medical Center Chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Ione M. Bramlet Memorial Christian Education Fund. Information is available through Master's Touch Tours of Prescott Valley. The fund provides book scholarships to Christian young people who are pursuing degrees in education. Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home assisted the family. Information provided by survivors.