Mildred M. (Elfline) Brautigam

The heavenly Angels appeared on June 20th, 2025 to take Mildred M. Brautigam to her eternal home to be forever with Jesus her savior, her husband Robert and her recently departed sons Gary and Denny.

Mildred was born on July 3rd, 1929, in Big Springs, Mo. she grew up in the Rhineland, Big Springs and Americus communities. She was the daughter of Benjamin Karl and Mary (nee Gentry) Elfline. She attended and later graduated from Hermann High School in 1948. Mildred married Robert G. Brautigam at Swiss, Missouri on November 26th, 1949.

Mildred is survived by one son Terry Brautigam of New Haven, Mo, by two sisters-in-law, Loretta Elfline of Hermann and Juanita Elfline of Summersville, by one grandson Andrew Brautigam of Comstock Park, MI and three step grandchildren, Sara Jesser and husband Rick of Comstock Park, MI; Lynn Schleeter and husband Shaun of Harrisburg, MO; and Jason Ewald of Fulton, Mo. She is also survived by other nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.

She is preceded by her parents, her husband Robert, by two sons Gary and Denny, and by four brothers Milferd, Marvin, Milburn and Melvin Elfline.

Mildred spent many summer hours in the garden raising vegetables to can and also caring for her chickens. The money she earned selling eggs and cream was used to pay for numerous vacations and trips. During the winter months while her sons were in school, she enjoyed embroidering and quilting. Mildred worked numerous public jobs throughout her life. In addition to raising her sons she was employed at factories including the shoe factory in Hermann, and Kellwood and Langenberg Hat factory in New Haven. She did numerous custodial jobs for several churches, and the post office and several private residences. Mildred also helped fill in as a substitute kitchen employee at the New Haven public Schools and at the University of Missouri Campus in Columbia. While living in Columbia she also worked as a file clerk in the administration building at Jesse Hall. Mildred never possessed a driver's license, as a result of this she maintained good health by walking all over town going from her residence to those places where she worked or need to go. Many times, she had to walk the town stairs in New Haven. While walking she would often stop to visit friends or anyone along the way. Mildred was an avid reader of novels, travel books and the Bible. Other interest included playing the piano, doing crossword puzzles, playing table games, and writing in her journal. Mildred and her husband Robert attended the Baptist churches in Hermann, New Haven and Columbia, Missouri. She served for many years as the church secretary and a Vacation Bible School worker and church pianist. Her proudest personal achievement was attaining her "bucket list" goal of visiting all lower 48 states. 

Visitation for Mildred will be Tuesday, June 24th from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Toedtmann & Grosse Funeral Home, New Haven, MO. Funeral services will be Wednesday the 25th at 10:00 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment will be at the Swiss Evangelical Reformed Cemetery, Swiss, Mo.

The family requests memorials be made to the cemetery or Heartland Hospice.