Mildred Ellen "Mitzie" Brehmer, age 76 of Ely Lake, died Tuesday, May 05, 2009 in St. Luke's Hospice Center in Duluth. She was born April 30, 1933 in Duluth, MN, the daughter of Gustave and Hilda (Bremer) Mell. Mitzie married Hilmer Herbert Brehmer on November 28, 1981. She began work with the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office on April 16, 1963 and retired from St. Louis County Dispatch 911 on January 28, 1994. Mitzie was a member of the Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church and was very active in the church; serving as the Chair of the Altar Guild; was on the Social Action Committee and Soup Kitchen; sang in the Sr. Choir; and served on the Council. She enjoyed doing "patch blankets", displaying patches from around the world, loved to travel, volunteered with Reach for Recovery, was a member of the Sewing Club, belonged to the St. Louis County Retirees, and was on the AAL insurance board and Thrivent Congregational insurance board as a representative. Her family came first as a mother and grandmother.
She is survived by her children, Lester (Cheryl) Pernu of Gig Harbor, WA, Gary (Carolyn) Pernu of Virginia, Sandra (David) Wallin of Virginia, and Wayne Pernu of Portland, OR; step-children, Janice (David) Swanson of Fairbanks, AK, Don (Lois) Brehmer of Fargo, ND, Tom (Jean) Brehmer of Lake Mary, FL, Paulette Gilley of Sanford, FL, and Todd (Roberta) Brehmer of St. Cloud, MN; grandchildren, Evan Pernu, Collin Pernu, Katie Richards, and Nick Richards; step-grandchildren, Shannon Nelson, Brandon Muck, Sheila Wallin, Sara Bevan, Sandra Barrios, Bethany Nivison, Brent Brehmer, Joel Brehmer, Ryan Brehmer, Sarah Galis-Menendez, Emily Gilley, Daniel Gilley, Heidi Brehmer, Betsy Brehmer, and Jamie Anderson; great-grandchildren, Micheala, Tyler, Noah, and Kaylynn; and step-great-grandchildren, Gerald, Nolan, Geoffrey, Nathaniel, Emily, Jacob, Nicholas, Noah, Joshua, Luke, Kadee, Drew, Dylan, Logan, Ashlyn, Skyler, Payton, Ayla, Ivy, Dylan, and Griffin.
She is preceded in death by her parents; and her husband Hilmer, on January 18, 1984.
A Gathering Time for Family & Friends will be Friday, May 8, 2009 from 11:00 a.m. until the 1:00 p.m. Celebration of Life service at Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church in Virginia. Pastor Nathan Sager will officiate. Graveside services will be Monday, May 11, 2009, at 1:00 p.m. in the Greenwood Cemetery in Virginia.
A special thanks to Dennis and Sharon Pernu for their special care of Mitzie and to the Health Care Providers at St. Luke's in Duluth.
Memorials preferred to Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church Memorial Fund.
Family services provided by Bauman-Cron, A Bauman Family Funeral Home in Virginia. To online, please see: www.baumanfuneralhome.com.

Facts Born: April 30, 1933
Place of Birth: Duluth
Death: May 5, 2009
Place of Death: St. Lukes Hospice Center - Duluth, MN
Occupation: 911 Dispatcher
Hobbies: Sewing, Travel, Volunteering
Organizations: Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church, Sewing Club, St. Louis County Retirees
Services Gathering Time for Family & Friends

Friday May 8, 2009 , 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church

Celebration of Life Service

Friday May 8, 2009 , 1:00 p.m. at Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church

Graveside Services

Monday May 11, 2009 , 1:00 p.m. at Greenwood Cemetery