Sheridan Theodore Bracken
October 19, 1918 - November 7, 2009
Obituary
Sheridan Theodore ‘Ted’ Bracken, born October 19, 1918 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, died November 7, 2009 in Vancouver, WA. He lived for 55 years in the same house in Des Moines, WA. Although Ted worked as an engineer for Boeing for many years, his fondest memories were of his youth on a farm in Wisconsin, his time spent ‘bumming’ on the railroads and the R&R time he spent in Australia during WWII. He volunteered for the National Guard before the U.S. joined WWII and was stationed in the South Pacific after we joined the war. There he experienced near starvation and malaria, both experiences he bore without much fan fare but with humor. Ted valued friendship and fun more than any possession, yet he never could part with mementos of his days teaching in Parkdale, OR or his former hobby as a brewer. He loved gardening and grew beautiful peonies, iris and roses but had a vendetta against ivy. Ted was a generous man. He gave to charities and the Democratic Party; made sure that family and close friends were remembered at Christmas and was always willing to buy dinner and drinks for his friends. He will be missed for these characteristics and for the character he was. Ted is survived by his only child, Julie Annette Bracken and many relatives and friends who admired him. He was preceded in death by his wife Olyve Olson Bracken and companion Elizabeth Fesser. As many of you know, Ted was a very generous guy and last Christmas he donated to the Oregon Food Bank, which is the regional food bank in our area. Since then, I have become very involved in a new food bank that will be serving the rural poor in North Clark County. It is called the Lewis River Mobile Food Bank. We are delivering food to 4 rural areas. The people who live near these areas would have to travel from 25 to 50 miles to access a previously existing food bank. Buy bringing food to a location near them, we are hoping to further ease the burden of hunger and poverty. If you are inclined to make a donation in Ted’s name, please consider the Lewis River Mobile Food Bank LRMFB at 38809 NE 41st Ave., La Center, WA 98629. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, 11/11 from 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm, Thursday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Funeral Services will be held on Thursday at 3:00 pm at BONNEY-WATSON Washington Memorial, 16445 International Blvd., SeaTac, WA 206 242-1787.
