Anna “Pete” Jean Brackmann

Anna Jean "Pete" Brackmann (97) passed peacefully into the arms of our Lord on Friday, September 11th, 2026. She was surrounded by family and caretakers in her Meadows Assisted Living apartment in Brownsburg, IN. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Edward R. Brackmann.

Pete was born in Pine Bluff, AR, the only child of Anna and Arthur Peterson. She moved to Fayetteville, AR at age 3. She fondly remembered her time at Fayetteville HS, singing in a sextet and as the lead in an operetta. She received an Associate's Degree from St. John's College (Winfield, KS) where her love for music continued and she made lifelong friends. Pete received a Bachelor's Degree from Concordia Teachers College (River Forrest, IL). While there she taught kindergarten at Bethel Lutheran School (Chicago, IL) and met her future husband, "Physical" Ed Brackmann.

1950 Following college, both Pete and Ed found teaching positions in Ft. Wayne, IN where they both taught school at Zion Lutheran. 1951 they were married at St. John Lutheran Church of Fayetteville AR. They would welcome three children while living in Ft. Wayne: Eric, Julianne, and Mark.

1959 the family moved to Bloomington, IL where Ed taught at Trinity Lutheran School and son Matthew was born. Pete always remembered the wonderful people they met while a part of Trinity Lutheran Church in Bloomington, IL.

1967 the family moved to Hong Kong for Ed to be a Teacher and Missionary at the Hong Kong International School. There Anna and Ed would re-unite with many former classmates from St. John's and Concordia Teachers College.

1970 the family moved back to Ft Wayne where Pete took pride in herhome for 55 years. She cherished her wonderful neighbors including niece Susan Keck (and family). Pete enjoyed her pets, immense cacti collection, birds and gardening. She was an active member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church where she enjoyed singing in the choir and serving as a school playground supervisor and Stephen Minister.

One of her great joys was spending time with loved ones, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Pete was survived by her Children: Eric (Mary Lou) Brackmann, Julianne (Sam) Crawn, Mark (Pam) Brackmann and Matthew (Francine) Brackmann.

Grandchildren: Mark (Carol) Crawn, Jessica (Michael Jenkins) Brackmann, Aaron (Molly) Crawn, Joshua (Danielle) Brackmann, Katie (Jason) Grill, Daniel (Amanda) Crawn, Beth (Josh) Shultz, Alex (Kelsey) Brackmann, Kirk Brackmann, Amelia Brackmann, Cameron Brackmann.

Great Grandchildren: Faith and William Crawn; Genevieve Brackmann and Jackson Jenkins; Landon and Lucy Crawn; James and Michael Brackmann; Gabby and Jackson Grill; Ada Crawn; Josefina, Simeon and Theodore Shultz; Benjamin, Vivienne and Eloise Brackmann

Funeral service will be held on Friday, September 18, 2026 at 11:00am with calling prior from 10:00am-11:00am at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 3425 Crescent Ave, Fort Wayne, IN 46805.

Burial will take place following the service at Concordia Gardens Cemetery, 5365 Lake Ave, Fort Wayne, IN 46815.

Officiating the services will be Pastor Jacob Koehler.

Memorial donations may be directed to Holy Cross Lutheran Church and or Worship Anew.

To sign the online guestbook or to share a memory, visit www.hessfuneralhome.com or find us on Facebook.

Arrangements and care entrusted to Hess Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Fort Wayne, IN.