Christine Grabow

Christine Gogolin Grabow, 97, of Brenham, widow of Gus Grabow, died December 20, 2013 at Kruse Lutheran Village Health Care Center after a long battle with Alzheimer''s.

Mrs. Grabow was born Dec. 5, 1916 near Cuero, Texas to Pastor Paul and Rosa Witte Gogolin. She was baptized by her father into the Christian faith on Dec. 17, 1916 in St. John''s Lutheran Church in Meyersville, and was confirmed April 13, 1930, in St. John''s Lutheran Church in Prairie Hill by her father. Mrs. Grabow attended Washington County Schools, Blinn College and Sam Houston Teachers College. On July 8, 1937, she married Gus Grabow in St. John''s Lutheran Church in Prairie Hill by her father. Mrs. Grabow taught in the Prairie Hill School for 5 years after which she joined her husband in establishing the Brenham Livestock Auction and in later years the office of Grabow Realty. Mrs. Grabow was a member of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church where she served as a member of the church Council, on various committees, and as a Stephen''s minister. She was a member of the Women of the ELCA in which she served as an officer. She began teaching Sunday School at the age of 13 at St. John''s Lutheran Church and continued for 40 years serving in the nursery department of St. Paul's. She will always be remembered for her loving nature, quick wit and generosity.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Florence Rose and Donald Ray Ahrens; grandchildren Dr. Craig and Vickie Ahrens of Flower Mound, and Tamara Leigh and Charles Canterbury of Richmond; great-grandchildren: Kristen and Kyle Canterbury, and Matthew Ahrens, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband in 1981, brother and sister-in-law Carl and Jean Gogolin, sisters and brothers-in-law Clara and Paul Schulte, Gertrude and Marvin Smith, Marie and Sam Cohen, and Ben and Margaret Heidemann, her mother and father-in-law Florence and Gus Grabow, Sr., sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Gladys and William Sommer, and Benita and Richard Geisler, nephews Paul Wm. Schulte, Paul Heidemann, Manuel Gonzales, Richard Geisler, and nieces Clara Adele Woods, Bessie Sommer, and Janice Sommer.

The family wishes to thank the caregivers at LaRoche Manor and the Kruse Health Care Center for their dedicated service and care extended to our mother and grandmother. Also our deep appreciation goes to the pastors of St. Paul's Lutheran Church and the women of The ELCA who faithfully visited.

Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m., Monday, December 23, 2013 at St. Paul''s Lutheran Church, with Pastors Phil Fenton and Kindlee Lund officiating. Burial will follow in Prairie Lea Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5 until 7 p.m. Sunday evening at Memorial Oaks Chapel.

Memorials may be directed to St. Paul's Lutheran Church T. V. Ministry, 503 W. Third St., Brenham, or to a charity of your choice.

Serving as pallbearers are Craig Ahrens, Chuck Canterbury, Kyle Canterbury, Matthew Ahrens, Charles Lange, Manualito Gonzalez, and Keith Lange.

Funeral arrangements for Christine Grabow are entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 W. Main, Brenham.