Willa Mae Brase

Willa Mae Brase, age 100, of Columbia City, IN, passed away at 2:42 pm on Sunday April 9, 2023, at Parkview Whitley Hospital, Columbia City.  Born on January 28, 1923, in Montpelier, OH, she was the daughter of Andrew and Ida (Baker) Clay.

Willa attended North Side High School, Fort Wayne.  On June 9, 1941, she married Robert W. Brase in Montpelier, OH.  Willa was a homemaker and also owned a fabric store.  She was an excellent seamstress and quilter.  Willa also enjoyed reading, cooking, spending time with her grandchildren, and just being very loving and kind to everyone around her.

Survivors include her children Susan Vogely of Columbia City, Robert (Sharon) Brase of Fort Wayne, Rebecca (Steve Watson) Brase of Columbia City, and Andrea Higgins of Charleston, SC; 11 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; 9 great-great-grandchildren; sister Ruby Lockhart of Bryan, OH.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Robert W. Brase, brothers Carmen, Bernard, Harry, and Bob Clay, and sister Ruth Callahan.

Funeral services for Willa will be held at 2:00 pm on Monday April 17, 2023, at DeMoney-Grimes Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City, with calling from 12:00-2:00 pm.

Burial in Lindenwood Cemetery, Fort Wayne.

Memorial contributions in memory of Willa may be made to Parkview Hospice.

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