Karl Dietrich Bramstedt

Dateline: Alton Karl Dietrich Bramstedt, 85, died at 5:15 p.m. Monday, June 9, 2014 with his family by his side. Karl was born September 6, 1928 in Mascoutah, IL to Mathilde (Wilmsmeyer) and William Bramstedt. He was the ninth child of a family of ten. Karl is survived by his wife, Christine (Turpin) of Alton. They have been married 64 years. Along with his wife he is survived by two sons, Mark (Marti) Bramstedt of Yorkville, IL and Timothy (Angela) Bramstedt of Glen Carbon, IL. Five grandsons: Nathan (Carol) Bramstedt of Oswego, IL, Matthew (Sarah) Bramstedt of Grand Rapids, MI, Samuel, George, and Frederick Bramstedt of Glen Carbon, IL. Great grandchildren: Paul, Ruth, and Lydia Bramstedt of Oswego, IL. Two sisters: Esther Twarog and Charlotte Pivoras and a brother, Paul Bramstedt. He was preceded in death by a son, Steven Karl Bramstedt in 1973, five brothers, Luther, Walther, Arthur, Robert, and William, and a sister, Ruth. Karl was an active member of Heartland Baptist Church (formerly Alton First Southern Baptist Church). He was a Deacon of the church for many years. He was also active in the educational aspect of the church, teaching Sunday school and vacation Bible school for several years. In 1950, upon graduation from SIU Carbondale, Karl was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was called to active duty in 1951, after his first year teaching school at Crossville, IL. He served during the Korean War era and at the end of this duty stayed in the U.S. Marine Reserves as Captain for several years. When he left active duty he returned to teaching at Enfield, IL. It was three years later, the family moved to Alton, where Karl had accepted a job teaching Industrial Arts. Karl taught in many aspects of education; elementary, junior high, high school, and was an administrator at Alton High School and the J.B. Johnson Center. He earned a Master’s Degree and a Specialist Certificate in Education from SIU Edwardsville. He retired from Alton Schools with 38 years to his credit. Through the years Karl was active in the Lewis and Clark Society of America and was a part of the society when the present Lewis and Clark Visitor’s Center and Museum was established at Hartford, IL. Karl and his wife Christine enjoyed traveling in retirement. He especially enjoyed the trip to the Bramstedt ancestral home in Oldenburg, Germany. Karl was an avid woodcarver and established a small woodcarving business in his retirement years. He also enjoyed his lawn and property and had pride in his gardening skills. Karl loved his family and was a wonderful father figure to all the children. Visitation will be from 4:00-8:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 11, 2014 at Gent Funeral Home in Alton. Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, June 12, 2014 at Heartland Baptist Church in Alton. Dr. James Grant will officiate. Burial will be at Rose Lawn Memory Gardens in Bethalto. Memorials may be made to Heartland Baptist Church. PDF Printable Version

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Karl Dietrich Bramstedt

September 6, 1928 - June 9, 2014