Emma (Ruppel) Buhrke Fowler

FOWLER, EMMA (RUPPEL) BUHRKE February 16, 1913 - March 14, 2015 Emma Ruppel Buhrke Fowler was born on February 16, 1913, in Saginaw. Emma was the eighth of ten children born to Karl and Anna Ruppel. Three siblings, Karl, Anna, and David, died as infants. Six other siblings, Amelia, John, Elizabeth, Fred, Henry, and Reinhold, also preceded her in death. Emma was a member of Holy Cross Ev. Lutheran Church for 57 years, where she was baptized and confirmed. After her retirement, Emma was a founding member of Mountain View Lutheran Church in Apache Junction, Arizona. Her final church home was Family of Christ Lutheran Church in Monument, Colorado. Emma attended Holy Cross Lutheran School as a child. She later attended South Junior High and Arthur Hill High School. She was a waitress at the Saginaw Club and a homemaker. Emma was married to Alfred Buhrke on February 23, 1935, in Holy Cross Ev. Lutheran Church, where Alfred was a Lutheran school teacher. They were both very active in church activities. They had two children, a son, Bruce in 1946, and a daughter, Ruth Ann in 1951. The Buhrke’s enjoyed many outdoor activities including camping, boating, and fishing. Em also liked gardening. After retirement, they divided their time between homes in West Branch, Michigan and Apache Junction, Arizona. Em and Al were married for 48 years before Al passed away in 1983. Emma was then married to Chester Fowler on May 21, 1987, in Snowflake, Arizona. They enjoyed square dancing, playing cards, and church activities. In 2005, Em and Chet moved from Apache Junction, AZ to Colorado Springs, CO to live with Em’s daughter, Ruth Ann. Chet developed Alzheimer’s disease and passed away in 2009. They were married 21 years. Emma spent the remainder of her life reading, traveling, and visiting with her family. Her greatest joys were her grandchildren, Kyle (Michelle) Olson, Jennifer Buhrke (Reid) Schultz, Joel Buhrke, and her great-grandchildren, Andrew, Sam, Caroline, Phillip Olson, Jack and Lily Schultz. She is also survived by her daughter-in-law, Lynn Buhrke and a step-son, Eddie Fowler. She loved all her nieces, nephews and their families. She always felt at home when she was with them. Emma also became close friends with the Murray family in Taylorsville, MS. She was fortunate to be in their company during her last days. Emma died March 14, 2015, at the Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg, MS. Emma’s memorial service will take place 11:00 a.m., Friday, July 17, 2015, at Holy Cross Ev. Lutheran Church, 600 Court St., Saginaw, MI. The Rev. James F. Krueger will officiate. A private family committal will follow later in Roselawn Memorial Gardens. Friends are welcome to visit with the family at the church on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of her memorial service. Memorial contributions may be given to Holy Cross Lutheran School. Memories and sympathies may be shared with the family on Emma’s memorial website at www.WakemanFuneralHome.com

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Emma (Ruppel) Buhrke Fowler

February 16, 1913 - March 14, 2015