Obituary of Lila Brouwer

Lila Lora (Loutzenhiser) Brouwer was the youngest of nine children born to Ernest T. and Edith G. Wildman Loutzenhiser on September 7, 1924, in Jewell, Kansas. She was born in a rock house six miles south of Jewell. When she was four years old she moved with her family to a farm 17 miles northeast of Flagler to a community known as Shiloh. Her family experienced many “make DO times,” during the Great Depression. Neighbors helped neighbors and little cash ever changed hands. Lila’s parents nurtured their children in the church so at a young age Lila received Jesus Christ as her Savior and Lord. In May 1936 she was baptized and became a member of the Shiloh Baptist church. It was here, at Shiloh, that Lila remembered her mother playing the piano. Edith passed away when Lila was approximately 12 years old so she did not get the experience of learning music from her mother. However, Lila had an appreciation for music and learned to play “by ear.” By the 1940’s she was playing for worship services. She also had a lot of fun playing the popular music of her era such as “You Are My Sunshine.” She would hear the songs a few times on the radio and then be able to play them herself on the piano. Her children loved hearing Lila play some of these oldies but goodies in the evenings while going to sleep. Lila’s education began at Shiloh school and transportation was on horseback. She continued there through her freshman year of high school. She then moved into an apartment in Flagler with several other young high school girls to complete the remainder of her high school years at the Flagler school. During her school years, Lila competed in track and field events often winning blue ribbons. She possessed the “Loutzenhiser speed” which is well-known over the decades in the Flagler High School athletic history. She also enjoyed playing tennis when it was available. After her graduation in 1942, Lila was given the opportunity to work as a telephone operator for the Bell Telephone Company in Flagler. She had planned on leaving Flagler for a work opportunity in Leadville at Camp Hale, which she felt would have been a great experience, but chose to stay in Flagler to help meet the needs on her father’s farm since he was a widower. Lila was in 4-H and had a project showing Duroc Hogs which brought her many awards and a free train trip on the Zepher to attend the state fair in Pueblo. In 1941, Lila met the handsome Jake Brouwer at the county fair who was showing his 4-H Herford cattle project. With an introduction over the corral fence, they became friends and this blossomed into a life-long romance. On August 1, 1945, they were married in Denver at the home of Jake’s sister and husband, Lena and Henry Nordon. Jake was on furlough after having served a tour of duty in the Southwest Pacific campaign with the 13th Army Air Force. Their beautiful wedding picture is an all-time favorite of the family. After Jake completed his military service in September 1945, the couple made their first home in Denver where he found employment. In the spring of 1946, they moved from Denver to the homestead of Jake’s parents north of Vona, Colorado and began farming and ranching. To their delight Donald Eugene was born in July of that year. Big events continued in 1946 with an unusually large snow fall in November – up to three feet on the level. The only form of transportation was by horse drawn wagon or by a horse and bob sled. Therefore, when cabin fever set in, they would put their young son in his basket and with the horse and sled made their way over to Jake’s cousin’s farm for coffee and playing cards. In July of 1948 to their joy a second son, Larry Gordon, was born. Because the farm they lived on was sold, Jake, Lila and sons moved back to the Denver area. They had planned to build a home for themselves there, but before those plans were completed, Jake and Lila prayerfully decided to move to Flagler and help support the farm and ranch work of her father, who was experiencing health issues. In the next few years to come, two daughters, Janet Lorrene and Wanda Coleen blessed their home. In the early 1950’s eastern Colorado experienced drought and dust storms. Dust filled the air and pastures became bare. Raising cattle could not be sustained for the lack of grass. However, in August of 1955, Jake and Lila had the opportunity to lease a farm 4 ½ miles NE of Flagler, so they once again moved their family and settled into the life of ranching and farming. As a family they became active members in the Flagler Baptist Church. Lila enjoyed singing in the choir, playing the piano when needed, and teaching Sunday school. She served as the superintendent of the children’s junior department for seven years. In 1976 Jake and Lila built a home and workshop on land they purchased 7 miles north of Flagler. They enjoyed many family gatherings and having their grandchildren come to visit in this home. On August 1, 1995, Jake and Lila celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in the fellowship hall of this church. It was very fitting since they attended a Sunday evening service here as their first date. Lila had several hobbies, one of which included recipe collecting, starting back in the 1940’s. Many of these recipes made it to the scrapbook but not to the supper table. However, she was famous for her chocolate chip cookies, fried chicken, chicken fried steak and homemade wheat rolls. Her grandkids especially loved her macaroni-and-cheese but she would say it was nothing special. Even into her 80’s, she baked chocolate chip cookies and wheat rolls that were enjoyed by all of her family and friends -of which there was no end to the praises. Since Lila married a Dutchman, to celebrate this ancestry, she grew rows and rows of tulips competing with the best Holland could offer. The blooms of her tulips were always a welcomed sign that the warmth of spring would soon be arriving. She also loved to write. The typewriter was one of her best friends. Most things did not get published but it was a creative outlet for her. Although, Lila never went to college she was a life-long learner. She read books that helped her grow in her faith and encouraged her intimacy with the Lord; she also read about history. Books and magazines enabled her to become knowledgeable about many things. Lila was a loving wife, mother, grand-mother, great-grandmother and great-great grandmother, who taught Christian values. A desire she had for all of them. One of her legacies was making quilts for many of her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and even her great-great grandson, Owen. Lila hand embroidered each block in the quilts to create a cherished keepsake. After Jake passed away in April of 2003, Lila continued to live on their farm until a stroke in June of 2011 prevented her from returning. She valued her family and cared about them right up until the end. Lila anticipated her heavenly home and believed the Lord was calling her there. He answered her prayers on the evening of April 16th as He gently took her into His loving arms. She was surrounded by several of her family members who read scripture to her, sang a few favorite hymns and prayed over her as she left this world and entered her eternal home. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers and sisters who were: Lester, Donald, Clair, Everett, Irene (Wickham), Vera (Sheridan), Rex and Millard; and Jake, her husband of 58 years. She leaves to mourn her passing, her son Gene and wife Kay, son Larry and wife, Marianne, daughter Jan Brandt, and daughter, Wanda Faivre and husband Steve. Her grand children: Lonnie Brouwer and friend Buffy, Marion Brouwer and friend Kathy, Amy Chavous and husband Travis, Lora Hofstetter and husband Dennis, Matt Brandt and wife Nicole, Adam Brandt, Cosette Faivre and Jesse Faivre. Her great-grandchildren: Josiah Brouwer, Bethany Brent and husband Theron, Tyrel Brouwer, Seth Brouwer, Makayla Brouwer, Brody Chavous, Kendal and Olivia Hofstetter, and Lincoln Brandt. Great-great grandchildren: Owen and Braelyn Brent. She also leaves behind several in-laws along with a host of nieces and nephews. She leaves with you the words of Jesus Christ from John 11:25, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live. And everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.”