News & Notes Farewells Jane Ellen Brautigam, age 79 of Sidney, passed away on Wednesday, January 19, 2022, at 9:50 PM at Wilson Health. Jane was born on January 13, 1943 in Piqua and was the daughter of Kenneth and Mary Grace(Evans) Knoop who preceded her in death. Jane is survived by her loving family, husband who she married on June 20, 1964, Bernard Brautigam, her sons Mitchell (Lisa) Brautigam, Samuel (Katherine) Brautigam, Joshua
(Tricia) Brautigam and Andrew (Angela) Brautigam, 10 grandchildren Emily(fiancé Nathan Turner), Lukas, Nicholas, Benjamin, Andrew, Lillian, Jonah, Aaron, Grant, and Aiden, sisters Lois (Bill) Heintz, Donna Sue (John) Griewe, and Linda (Doug) Hague, and several nieces and nephews. Jane was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She supported Bernie on the farm, raised four boys, and guided 10 grandchildren to adulthood. She was a hard worker, constantly on the move, and always had a project. Jane managed the family shorthorn herd and showed them at the county, state, and national competitions. In 1988, her heifer won Reserve Champion at the North
American Livestock Exposition. She was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for the Shorthorn Breed in 2019. Jane also loved decorating the family home, collecting antiques, and was a superb cook. She was a member of the local garden club and was an Eastern Star. Jane was a graduate of Ohio Northern University and taught at Lowell Elementary School from 19641966. She was also a former member of the Fairlawn Local School Board. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Jane’s memory to the Greenview United Church of Christ in Plattsville. =
W.Lee Deutsche, 80, of Crete, Illinois, passed away on January 22, 2022, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was born in Chicago Heights, Illinois, on April 1, 1941, to LeRoy and Esther (Bartels) Deutsche. Lee graduated from CreteMonee High School in 1959 and from Arkansas State University in 1964, with a BS degree in Animal Husbandry. As a high school FFA project, Lee purchased a few Shorthorn heifers. Raising and breeding Registered Shorthorn Cattle became a lifelong passion as a proud member of the American Shorthorn Association. Lee showed his cattle nationally, and in Canada. His reputation for knowledge of registered Shorthorn pedigrees was
second to none. He also raised corn, soybeans, wheat, and hay, with his father, brother, and sons. The Deutsche Family adopted and promoted land and water conservation practices such as terraces and no-till farming. Lee served on the Will/South Cook Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Directors. The Deutsche Family represented the region as Conservation Farm Family of the Year in 1982, and traveled to both the state and national conventions. Lee was the Nature Conservancy Citizen of the Year in 2016. Lee also served his community on the Crete-Monee 201-U Board of Education, the Will County Farm Bureau Board of Directors, the Nature Conservancy Foundation Board, the Forest Preserve District of Will County, and the Will County Board. Lee was a lifelong member of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ and served on many
church boards. He enjoyed attending his grandchildren’s sporting events and school activities, and was a die hard Cubs fan who celebrated their long-awaited World Series Championship in 2016. Lee is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Sharon, infant granddaughter Marissa Sartori, and stepson TD Gearhart. He is survived by his wife Mary Ann; children Monica (Tim) Sartori, Darren, Amy, and Kyle (Kelly) Deutsche; stepchildren Mary Margaret (Rich) Tamez, and Elizabeth (Adam) Oestmann; grandchildren Justin and Paige Sartori, Ben and Jack Deutsche, Marisa (Cody) Hawk, Theresa Tamez, Emma and Anna Oestmann; great grandchildren Freya and June Hawk; brother David (Rita) Deutsche, and many brothers and sisters-in-law, and nieces and nephews. =
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shorthorn country = march 2022
