Jake Walter Bram

Jake Walter Bram: Jake passed away at his home in Cape Coral, Florida on Thursday at the age of 85 years and 12 days. Jake's family includes his wife, Marge Bram of Oskaloosa; two daughters, Vicki (Dick) Brown of Oskaloosa and Susan Johnson of Pella. He was blessed with four grandchildren: Nick Hatzievgenakis of Tempe, AZ; Matthew (Tonia) Brown of Redmond, WA; Tracy (Matt) Brice of Allentown, PA; Todd Brown of San Diego, CA and five great grandchildren: Jon Peden, Caden and Caley Brice and Holden and Hailey Brown. He is survived by a sister, Betty Ripley of Perry, IA. Jake Walter Bram, son of Henry and Jennie Rasmussen Bram, was born January 7, 1921 in Renwick, Iowa. Jake was a 1938 graduate of LaVerne High School. He enrolled at Iowa State University following high school. World War II started and Jake suspended his education while he served with the Army from April 1942 to November 1945. While in the military he married Margaret ""Marge"" J. Lowman on March 21, 1943 at the First Congregational Church in Ames, IA. After the war he returned to ISU, where he finished his last quarter and received a degree in Agricultural Management and Education. Jake's first job took him and Marge to Fort Dodge, where he taught for the county extension office. In 1953, the family moved to Oskaloosa, where he served as the distribution manager for the Des Moines Register; he held this position for 25 years. In 1961, Jake joined Jack Hunt in the real estate business. He started the Oskaloosa Real Estate Center in 1964, today the business is known as Hawkeye Real Estate. He also worked as a Certified Real Estate Appraiser. He retired from real estate in 2001. He served in the Army Reserves for over 35 years and retired in January 1981 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Jake enjoyed golfing, woodworking, his grandson's sporting events, and ISU sports. He was a 50 year plus member and trustee at the St. Paul Congregational UCC and taught Sunday school there. He was also a member of the American Legion, the Elks, Oskaloosa Realtors Association and was involved in the Trees Forever Program. Jake's original dedication to education never left him and he continued to be a proponent and advocate of continuing education. He was preceded in death by his parents and six sisters: Matilda White, Doris Withers, Jenny Norton, Anita Olson, Eldine Adams, and Bertha Dunlap and two brothers: Fred and Lewis Bram. PDF Printable Version

Jake Walter Bram

January 7, 1921 - January 19, 2006