Norene Marie [Brandt] Brauner, 81,of Boerne, Texas, formerly of the Humphrey and Creston, Nebraska area, entered into rest on May 13, 2025 in Boerne, Texas.

A small celebration of life reception was held for her Texas family and friends on May 22, 2025, at the Terraces at Cibolo from 4:30 to 7:30, where she enjoyed countless hours of games with friends.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at 10:30 A.M. at St. John's Lutheran Church-LCMS, 39452 205th Ave, Columbus, NE, the same church where Norene was baptized, confirmed, and married, with Pastor William Voelker officiating.  Inurnment will follow the service in the parish cemetery.  Visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, from 5:00 - 7:00 P.M. at the Gass Haney Funeral Home, 2109 14th Street, Columbus, NE, and on Wednesday from 9:30 - 10:30 A.M. at the church with a family prayer service at 10:15 A.M.

Norene was born on August 24, 1943, to Harold Louis and Alice Margaret [Reins] Brandt in Columbus, Nebraska. She was baptized on September 9, 1943, and confirmed her faith on April 14, 1957, at St. John Lutheran Church-LCMS, in rural Columbus, Nebraska.

Norene was raised on the farm and attended St. John's Lutheran School in her younger years and graduated from Creston High School on May 14, 1961 where she was Salutatorian of her class and served as the Co-editor of the Round Up (the school annual), the Art Editor for the Rambler (the school newspaper), a member of the Pep Club, an actress in the senior class play, and a class officer (news reporter). Norene then attended the University of Nebraska studying Home Economics and fashion design.

On June 20, 1965, she was married to E. Ladean Brauner at St John's Lutheran Church.  Their union would result in four children, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren, which became the focus of her life. Norene still expressed her love for art and design, first working at Landgren's Photography where she created beautiful hand-colorized photos and then designing and sewing her own wedding gown and dresses for her wedding party. Norene spent the next 17 years as a farm wife where she continued to sew wonderful outfits for each of her children.

Moving back to Columbus, Nebraska, she worked as the seamstress at Schweser's in the bridal department while attending Central Community College, earning an associate's degree in accounting. She then moved to Fremont, Nebraska where she took an accounting position with Hormel Foods and then to Cedar Bluffs, Nebraska where she served for many years as the school district's financial accountant and secretary. Following her youngest daughter's high school graduation, the family moved to Lincoln, Nebraska where she took an accounting position with Nebraska Public Employees Retirement System where she was later selected to become certified as an IT professional.

Following retirement in 2010 she moved to Boerne, Texas to be closer to her grandchildren. She became active in the Terraces at Cibolo senior living community, forming many wonderful friendships over birthday lunches and game days.  She was also an active member of St John's Lutheran Church in Boerne and worked as a seamstress in her spare time. She was an animal lover that fostered and adopted some wonderful companion dogs in her retirement.

Norene loved gardening, reading, and painting.  She also loved to watch sports, especially her Huskers and her grandsons. She opened her home to family and friends whenever a helping hand was needed and was always known to be a willing driver for anyone including her active grandsons and elderly friends, garnering the moniker, "Zoom-zoom grandma". Her faith was in her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and the family knows she has found peace in his awaiting arms.

A small celebration of life reception was held for her Texas family and friends on May 22, 2025, at the Terraces at Cibolo from 4:30 to 7:30, where she enjoyed countless hours of games with friends.

Norene is survived by:
Son: Gregory Ladean Brauner of Duncan, NE
Daughter: Stephanie Louise (Chip) Chandler of Boerne, TX
Son: Jason Emil Brauner of San Antonio, TX
Daughter: Valerie Jean Brauner (Gustavo Gonzales, Jr) of Boerne, TX
Grandsons: Jacob Douglas Brauner (Regan Gombert) of Fair Oaks Ranch, TX
Wyatt Henderson and Brady Calhoun Chandler of Boerne, TX
Great-Grandchildren: Dyllon Marie and Colson Edward Brauner
Sister-In-Law: Eunice (Mott) Brandt
Many nieces and nephews including her godson, James Brandt

She was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Alice Brandt, and brother, Kenneth ("Kenny") Brandt.

Honorary pallbearers are grandsons, Jacob Brauner, Wyatt Chandler and Brady Chandler.