Tom Bratz's Obituary
Our beloved Dad, Tommy Ray Bratz passed away peacefully surrounded by family on October 13, 2021 at Mercy Medical Hospital.He was born Sept 22, 1944 to Herman & Kathryn (Crist) Bratz in Centerville, IA.
Our beloved Mom, Marilee Bratz passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on October 22, 2021. She was born Dec 10, 1943 to Louie & Mary (Glovis) Heck in Centerville, IA.
Mom & Dad graduated from Centerville High School in 1962. Being high school sweethearts, they decided to continue their love story. They married on March 24, 1963. Dad attended Auto Mechanics Trade School in Kansas City. Marilee stayed behind and helped her parents run their store, Hecks Grocery, and looked forward to weekends when he would come home to visit. Upon graduating auto school on Oct 27, 1965, he worked for a short time at Carmers, then leased the Sinclair station from 1966 until 1970 when he then bought his business, Tom Bratz Repair.
In 1983, he began adding to the repair business, an exhaust pipe bender business called Wonder Muffler, being the first business in Centerville to offer this service.
In 1984, Brad would join the business full time as a machinist and the name was changed to Bratz Automotive & Machine Shop. Working sun-up to sun-down he put his everything into it and made it a successful business. He was a member of the Jaycees, served on the City Zoning Commission, and served on the Airport Commission for several years.
Marilee set about making her family comfortable in our house next to the garage. She worked round the clock caring for her home & family. There was always lunch at noon for Dad, and a sit-down around the table evening meal for the whole family. She loved cooking, baking, helping people and anything her children were involved in. She spent many years as a room mother for us, making treats or doing whatever needed to be done. Whether it be sports, cheerleading, or school activities she would be there. For several years, she took up cake decorating. There were many cakes she baked over the years for various children and people. Mom also sold Avon for 50 years. When her children were older, she became a demonstrator for Hy-Vee Food Store. Anyone that came to our house was considered welcome. There was always room for one more, to visit, to sit at the dinner table or to just hang out. Our house became the hang-out for all our friends.
Dad drove a school bus for awhile and in the mid 1970*s Dad decided to start truck pulling competitively. We spent many summers traveling Iowa and neighboring states, once traveling to Texas attending truck pulls. The first truck was a 74 Chevy. It was not named. A few years later he bought a 72 Chevy and its name was The Green Machine. After a few years, it got an upgrade and a new paint job. She then became The Foxy Lady. That was at a time when it wasnt really cool for guys to be sporting pink, but we were so proud of that truck. She was beautiful! He won many awards and even let Mom drive a few times. He served as president of the Tri-State Truck Pulling Association. He decided to hang it up in the mid 90s. He sold it and it is still out there somewhere today going strong.
In 1992, Mom opened Marilees Kids Korner*, a childrens clothing store. It remained open until 1994. In early 1990s, Dad & Mom opened T&M Storage, and T&M Car Wash soon followed. As usual for Dad, he poured his heart & soul into it, and it wouldn*t be unusual to see them both down there in the evenings cleaning up. They owned it until November 2017.
They enjoyed riding the Harley and they loved going to Branson. They loved attending jam sessions, listening to music and visiting with the people. It was their Friday night thing. They were very active in all their grandchildren's activities and would never miss an event. Whether it was sports, dance, tumbling, plays, concerts, whatever it was, they were there. They loved people. They knew few strangers, and if you ever had the chance to meet them or get to know them, you wouldnt soon forget them. Mom & Dad had a huge love for their fur babies and we had pets our whole life. Dad loved his black labs, and Mom loved her German Shepards. We kids were always dragging something home. We had many different animals over the years, including a capuchin monkey named Jocko.
When they began being blessed with grandchildren, they were over the moon! Mom made the statement, If I could have had grandchildren first, I never would have had kids! She would not hear of her babies going to daycare and took on the task of caring for them while their parents worked.
Mom & Dad loved decorating their house and yard for the holidays and would go all out. Halloween was a big time for them, and they spent many days and hours making homemade popcorn balls, and not just for the kids, for the adults too! She would begin the week before Halloween delivering them all over town. If she would happen to run out before everyone got theirs on trick or treat night, she would make more and deliver them after Halloween. Christmas was always a big time at their house. She would decorate to the hilt. She did lots of baking and candy making, giving a lot of it away.
Mom & Dad attended Moravia Lighthouse Church of the Nazarene and considered them all friends. Mom & Dad touched so many lives in their short 77 years. Most of all they loved their family. Whether it was a holiday, a birthday, an anniversary, or just a Sunday family dinner, it won*t be complete without them there. They loved being with their kids and grandkids.
It*s not how long the flower blooms, but how beautifully.
They will forever be cherished and remembered by their children.
Brad (Christina) Bratz, Luanne (Larry) Henderson, Kathy Bratz, Joe (Angie) Bratz.
Grandchildren; Anthony (Crystal) Ruth, Lacy Ruth (Timothy Hatfield), Sawyer Henderson, Ian Henderson, Jeremy Bratz, Gunner Milburn, Chelsey (Archie) Archanbault, Larissa (Adam) Havard.
Great Grandchildren; Nevaeh Clemens, Paityn Ruth, Dexliy Hatfield, Lavinia Bailey, Orion & Owen Archanbault, Danica & Lindy Havard.
Dad was preceded in death by his parents and two btothers: Richard and Robert Bratz.
Mom is also survived by her sister, Shirley Carson (Lee). She was preceded in death by her parents.
Celebration of Life services for Tom & Marilee Bratz will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, October 30, 2021 at Lighthouse Church of the Nazarene in Moravia, Iowa. Interment will immediately follow service at Oakland Cemetery in Centerville. Visitation will be all day on Friday, October 29, 2021 at the Thomas Funeral Home in Centerville, family will be present from 4:00 - 8:00 PM. Memorials may be given to the family to be designated at a later date and condolences can be shared at www.thomasfh.com or www.facebook.com/thomasfuneralhome.
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