Ardis Brabec, 83, Albert Lea
Published 12:00 am Saturday, August 16, 2003
Funeral services for Ardis Brabec, age 83, of Albert Lea, will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2003 at the Calvary Baptist Church. The Rev. Douglas Smither will officiate. Interment will be in Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m., Monday, Aug. 18, 2003 at the Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home, and one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday.
Ardis died on Friday, Aug. 15, 2003 at St. John’s Lutheran Home.
On March 14, 1920, Ardis was born to Hans and Hannah (Lackey) Jasperson in Milltown, Wis. She attended St. Croix Falls (Wis.) Public High School and Park County Normal School. Ardis accepted Jesus at an early age and on June 9, 1939 she dedicated her life in serving the Lord.
Ardis was united in marriage to Harlan Jensen of Glenville on Nov. 2, 1940. A son, Terris Allan Jensen was born to them. On May 2, 1947, Ardis married Luddy Brabec of Albert Lea. Lud and Ardis moved to Westmont, Ill, in 1953. Ardis worked as a medical secretary in a Tuberculosis hospital. She also worked at George Williams College in Downers Grove, Ill. as a secretary to the foreign professors. She served as a church organist in Westmont and also at Calvary Baptist in Albert Lea. She was part of a quartet, the “&uot;Gospel Aires.&uot; The Brabecs retired in 1978 and came back to Albert Lea. Ardis was active in many organizations in her church and community including the Salvation Army. Ardis would often accompany her twin brother, Arland Jasperson on the piano while he played his musical saw.
In March of 1990 Ardis went to the Island of Molokai as a short-term missionary.
Preceding her in death were her parents, her brothers Ray, Irwin, and Arland and a sister Gladys, her husband Harlan Jensen, her son Terris, and her husband Luddy.
Survivors include her nieces and nephews Larry and Barbara Smith, of Round Lake Park, Ill and Yuma, Ariz., their sons Gary and his wife Karen Smith and children Philip, Jillian, and Emily; Dennis and his wife Lynn Smith and their children Bradley and Christine; nephew Lynden and his wife Cara Smith of Albert Lea, and Keith and Kim Jasperson; adopted grandchildren Joshi and Peter Brown of Columbus Ohio, Danny Landenberg of Arlington Va., Chip Blankenberg of Elmhurst Ill., great-grandchildren Parker and Ward Brown of Columbus Ohio, and special friend Karen Dokken.
Ardis’ desire was that her family would experience the joy of loving Jesus. Jesus led them all the way and with Jesus the best is yet to come. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Calvary Baptist’s youth ministry, AWANA.