Eulogy for Grandma Bring

Obituary

Mildred Ellen (Wynegar) Bring, age 82 of Lyons, NE died on Thursday October 23, 2003 at Heritage of Bel Air nursing home in Norfolk.

Mildred was born on September 29 1921 in Ulysses, NE to Robert and Mabel Wynegar. She grew up on the family farm and graduated from Ulysses High School in 1939 and then graduated from Beauty School in Lincoln the next year. She worked in Lincoln until she married Kenneth Bring on September 21, 1946. They then moved to a farm near Lyons where they farmed and raised three children. They enjoyed many travels in their later years both in the states and abroad.

Mildred is survived by Lee Bring and his wife Rita of Lincoln, Dr. Gary Bring of Madison, and Sharon Bring of Lincoln, and four grandchildren, Angie, Chad, Alex, & Lisa.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Kenneth and two brothers Charles and Elmer.

My Eulogy:

I’m Chad Bring. Son of Lee bring, grandma’s first son.

I wanted to share some words and memories about my grandma.

As a kid up until the last time I went to visit her on the farm, I remember Grandma would always be there waiting by the door, holding it open when we arrived, we never had to knock.

She always had a hello, a hug, and a “how are you?”

She always had a genuine interest in all aspects of my life.

She (along with the help of my aunt Sharon) made the best-mashed potatoes and they had their work cut out for them, I ate a lot.

When I was a kid, she’d always send home with me the best chocolate chip cookies, which I had to share with my sister.

I grew up in Lincoln and now live in Omaha, I’ve always appreciated the quietness of that farm. It was a place of solitude for me. I could take the best naps on her couch, walk through the corn stocks, and stare out to never ending land. Being there was comforting.

I remember riding on the tractor with my grandpa or my dad and there would be grandma, watching from the kitchen window or outside taking pictures.

When I was really little she used to cut my hair being the beautician that she was.

She wrote me about once a month, if in one of her letters there was a typo, she would hand write in a note that said the typewriter misspelled a word.

While on a road trip with a friend of mine, we stopped by the farm and she told him jokingly (I hope) that she is sorry that he has to put up with me. She had a great sense of humor and was very witty, after all she had to with her three kids

After I turned 21 she invited me to Casino Omaha for a buffet and gave me a roll of nickels to try the slot machines. Needless to say, I left with no money.

On her 80th birthday, I got to see her ride a horse in Colorado. We threw her the best surprise party. The family took a old western picture together.

I will remember her at my high school and college graduation with a big smile on her face.

In what I believe to be the biggest example, the biggest way to describe who she was:

See, my parents have been married for almost 33 years, in that time, she and my mom have become close friends.

You should know that she sent cards for every occasion. Birthday, Thanksgiving, Easter, Christmas, Halloween, and for no reason at all.

One year (I'm told more), it was May and time to send my mom a Birthday card. Grandma always picked out the right card; "Happy graduation grandson", "Happy Halloween Son", on one card my mom received from her it read, “happy birthday, daughter in law”. But this was no ordinary card, grandma had made it extraordinary, she had taken a pen and crossed of the “in-law” part so the card simply read, “happy birthday, daughter”. It is how she saw my mom, she thought of her as another member of the family.

I’ll miss her greatly. She will remain alive in many memories such as the ones I have mentioned.

I take comfort in the fact that she is no longer in pain, she is reunited with my grandpa, and when I arrive in heaven, she’ll be there waiting by the door, I won’t have to knock.

I am honored to have been able to call her (grand)mom