Mary Armbruster Bratkovich, age 97, a longtime resident of Wheaton, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 13, 2018 at the Veterans Memorial Home in Paramus, NJ. Mary was born in Yorkville, Illinois on March 22, 1921. She began a nursing career as an RN, serving as a 2nd lieutenant nurse in the Army Air Corps during WW II, 1943-1944, and continued her nursing career into her eighties; working as a private nurse and at clinics for Community Nursing Service of DuPage. While working as a nurse at Kerns Air Force Base in Utah, she met her future husband, William Bratkovich, when he had his tonsils removed. Six months later, on September 18, 1943, his nurse became his wife.

After the war, they settled in Aurora, IL, and had 4 children. In 1960 they moved to Wheaton, IL. attending Wheaton Bible Church. In 1966 Bill became disabled from an auto accident.  Mary worked full-time as a nurse for Dr. Parker at the Glen Ellyn Clinic to support the family.  All of the children went to college during this difficult time.  Eventually, Bill's health improved such that he took a position as CFO with UniLit Publishing Co, in Portland OR. After spending 10 years on the West Coast they moved back to Wheaton where they lived until Bill's death on September 10, 2007.  For the last nine years of her life, Mary lived with her son, Jerry, and daughter-in-law, Donna, in New Jersey, enjoying some Florida sunshine during the winter months with Joel & daughter-in-law Lois.

She is survived by her three sons: Jim of Edmond, OK, Jerry and his wife Donna of Wyckoff, NJ, and Joel and his wife Lois of Jacksonville, FL.  She has 15 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren (one of whom is due in December). Mary Bratkovich is preceded in death by her oldest child, Janice White, husband, William Bratkovich, her grandchild, Todd Bratkovich, her 2 brothers Glenn and Russell, and her sister Ruth.

Mary was gentle, quiet, unpretentious, and unassuming.  She endeavored to serve wherever she went and leaves behind a legacy of a life lived in Christlike service.  A visitation will be held on Sunday, October 21, 2018 from 2:00 until 6:00 PM at the Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N Main St., in Wheaton. A funeral service will also be held at the Hultgren Funeral Home on Monday October 22, 2018 at 10:00 AM.  Internment will follow at Wheaton Cemetery.