June Brabec

Dolores June Brabec, 91, Washington, died Tuesday, April 23, 2019 at the Linn Community Nursing Home. A funeral service was 2 p.m., Friday, May 10, 2019 at the United Methodist Church, Washington. The family greeted friends one hour prior to the service. June was born at Morrowville on October 10, 1927 to Otho and Vera (Pepple) Barnes. June worked at an early age at her parent’s grocery store in Morrowville. After June’s junior year of high school, the family moved to Washington, where her father had the International Harvester Tractor and Implement Company. After graduating from Washington High School, she went to K-State one year, and went to work in Topeka. On May 26, 1946, June married Ival Brabec at the Methodist Parsonage in Washington. They were blessed with four sons, Jeff, Jim, Tom and Dan. In 1951, June and Ival moved to a farm east of town, where they lived twenty-six years, before moving to town in 1977. June belonged to the Methodist Church in Morrowville and later the United Methodist Church in Washington. After raising her boys, June worked for Rateuke Hardware and for the Sale Barn. In 1976, she began working at Kier’s Grocery and was there over twenty-nine years. June was instrumental in starting the annual alumni banquet that is held each year in Washington. She formed a committee with Paul Wilkinson, Lawrence Graham and Lois Acree, with June serving as secretary for nine years. June enjoyed dancing, playing cards, knitting, crocheting and embroidering. She liked to read and work puzzles and spend time with her family. Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Ival; sister, Joanne Holmes; and daughter-in-law, Jean Brabec. Survivors include her sons, Jeff (Rigs) Brabec, Washington, Jim (Joan) Brabec, Tom Brabec both of Greenleaf, Dan (Susan) Brabec, Manhattan; sister and Jackie (Chub) Acker, St. Marys; brother, Tony (Verda) Barnes, St. Joseph, MO; ten grandchildren, Lisa Brabec (Frank) Shaw, Andover, KS, Lesli Brabec (Chris) Lenners, Beatrice, NE, Jodi Brabec (Kirk) Nelson, Beatrice, NE, Amber (Andy) Goeckel, Washington, Rachel Brabec (Cam) McVean, Greenleaf, Kim Brabec (Jerry) Grasso, Lexington, KY, J.C. (Pam) Brabec, Washington, Bethany Brabec (Jason) Keever, Denver, CO, Ben (Mindy) Brabec, Shreveport, LA and Joey Brabec, Las Vegas, NV; sixteen great grandchildren, Alex (Kristen) Shaw, Phoenix, AZ, Jordon (Mallory) Shaw, Wichita, Allie Shaw, Wichita, Drew (Mallory) Hubka, Holdrege, NE, Ellie Lenners, Beatrice, NE, Aiden, Addy and Anna Goeckel, Washington, Garett (Jayda) Edgar, Hebron, NE, Nathan (Micala) Edgar, Savannah, GA, Hannah (Zak) Voelker, Overland Park, Demetrius and Maya Grasso, Lexington, KY, Nora and Wren Brabec, Washington, Barrett Brabec, Shreveport, LA; and six great-great grandchildren, Nova Shaw, Grayson, Madix and Josslynn Mae Edgar and Liam and Owen Edgar. A memorial fund is established and will be designated later. Contributions may be sent in care of Ward Funeral Home. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of June Brabec, please visit our flower store.