Bertha Eileen Duitscher, 89, passed away from this life to Heaven on Thursday, November 4, 2021, around 5 a.m. She was born to Margaret Miller, who was from a large loving family. Her first 4 years were spent at her Grandma Miller’s home with many aunts and uncles to dote on her. When Eileen was 5 yrs. old, her mother married Dennis F. Brauen, who was a widower with 2 young sons. The family of 5 lived on a farm in Bluffton, OH. Her parents and grandparents loved the Lord and each Sunday they attended church. Margaret played the piano and Dennis led singing and played the accordion.

In the 9^th grade, Eileen and her brother, Stanton, moved with their folks to McAllen, TX. Two of her uncles had moved there after WWII and were coaches. Dennis worked several different jobs but became a popular carpenter in McAllen. Eileen spent many hours at the Methodist Church just 2 blocks away from their home. She enjoyed babysitting, choir, the Methodist youth group, and helping wherever she was needed.  She loved the church and knew it was God’s Light here on earth.

When she was a Jr. in High School, she noticed the new handsome boy in study hall and he showed up at church, too. Stanley A. Duitscher was from Iowa and his parents came to McAllen for the winter. They became quick friends. In school, Eileen enjoyed basketball, the Honor Society, and was the Yearbook Editor. The pair graduated in 1950. Eileen attended a local college for a couple of years.

Stan attended Texas A&M but dropped out to avoid being a 2^nd Lieutenant, leaving to work in the oil fields of Montana for 6 months, and then he was called into the Army as the Korean War was ending. He and Eileen were soon married with a small wedding in the chapel at Kansas State in Manhattan, Kansas, April 10, 1953, while he was stationed at Ft. Riley. They honeymooned for 6 months she said until he was sent to Korea unexpectedly. While Stan was traveling the world, Eileen worked and lived with her parents in McAllen and his folks in Iowa.  One of her jobs was as a secretary for the famous basketball coach at Kansas State, Tex Winters. Stan came home safely from the Army after 15 months and was able to go back to Texas A&M to finish college.  Eileen worked and loved her group of Aggie wives.  She learned that women need Christian women friends to make it through life.

As the years went by, Stan and Eileen raised 4 daughters while living in Victoria and then LaMarque, TX.  Stan provided a good life for them as a City Engineer, City Manager, and then working for Amoco Gas.  Eileen enjoyed hosting parties and meetings often in their home. She was always playing in the garden and loved her flowers. She was also every kid’s favorite Sunday School teacher at the Methodist Church for 15 years. The girls remember home devotions, holiday decorating, dress-ups, slumber parties, movies and plays, camping in the tent trailer all over America, swimming, Girls Scouts and cookies, church choir, piano lessons, entertaining visiting loving relatives, and attending good schools.

In 1970, Stan started his own Surveying and Engineering business in LaMarque. He became very busy so Eileen became his secretary, and all shared in the cleaning and eventually typing and surveying with dad. Eileen also began Bible studies in her home with Women’s Aglow. She also joined weekly Bible Study Fellowship and Community Bible study classes for years. She loved the Bible and prayer which grounded her in life.

Throughout the years, Stan and Eileen have been members of First United Methodist Church and First Baptist Church of La Marque, Living Stones in Alvin, TX, and High Point Church in Friendswood, TX. The couple have also been involved in the LaMarque Rotary Club for 60 years and they have traveled all over the world with Rotary International. Eileen is a Paul Harris fellow and a major donor for the Rotary Polio cause and was a Rotary Ann for years.

After the girls were married, the Stan and Eileen built a beautiful home, their 3^rd, on Dickinson Bayou where Eileen had much more room to plant and play. Buying plants was one of her top joys in life and continued in their last moves. At the Dickinson home, she generously babysat their 10 grandchildren and created wonderful memories for them as she had done for her daughters. Also, during this time, Stan and her bought a trailer and traveled to see many friends and family, and camped with Rotarians.

Bertha Eileen Duitscher is preceded in death by parents, Dennis F. and Margaret Brauen, her son in law, David Scherer, and sister in law, Esther Brauen.

She leaves behind her husband of 68 years, Stanley Arthur Duitscher; daughters: Minda Jean Scherer, Laura Nell Foreman, husband Fred, Alisa Ann Goss, husband Tojoe, and Debra Dee Bruce, husband Daniel; Grandchildren: Christina Henson, husband Jeff, Melissa Goss-Jentz, husband Henric, Jayme Butler, husband Devin, Ryan Pedersen, wife Cristy, Bethany Bruce, Courtney Babin, husband Jason, Jordan King, husband Jonathan, Camille Warren, husband Matthew, Nathan Bruce, wife Clara, and Laith Scherer; Great Grandchildren:  Camden Henson, Carter Henson, Anabelle Jentz, Jannik Jentz, Stella Butler, William Pedersen, Benjamin Pedersen, Wesley Warren, Rory King, and Jullette Babin; Brothers:  Keith Brauen, and Stanton Brauen, wife JoAnn.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to Gideons International, PO Box 84, La Marque, TX  77568, or the Rotary International, PO Box 563, La Marque, TX  77568. Contact: Stan Duitscher, 2220 Green Tee Dr., Pearland, TX  77581.  281-732-5238 or 832-820-9965.