Marcella Clara Brasel

Marcella went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, August 31, 2025 at the age of 89. She was born Marcella Clara Schulze on June 12, 1936, in a farm home south of Chelsea, Oklahoma, to Paul and Louisa Schulze. She was the youngest of six, and lived on the farm in her youth and adolescent years. She graduated from Chelsea High School in 1954.

She moved to Tulsa, sharing a place with her sister Bertha, and began working for Sinclair Petroleum. It was there that a co-worker named Mary introduced Marcella to her brother, Jerry Brasel. Marcella and Jerry were married on September 1, 1957. After living in the Dawson area of Tulsa, the couple purchased a new home in Claremore, Oklahoma in 1964. The next year, they were blessed with a son – Michael (Mike). In 1967, they were blessed with a daughter – Lori.

Marcella enjoyed many things. She and Jerry tended a large garden every year with many vegetables, fruit trees, and flowers. She looked forward to the Rogers County Fair, where she brought home many blue and red ribbons. She enjoyed cooking and baking, sewing, reading, and putting together picture puzzles. The family enjoyed television in front of the fireplace in the den. It seemed as if almost every Friday night would be “Card Night” with sister and brother-in-law Bertha and Dale Willcutt. Marcella volunteered with Meals-On-Wheels for many years, preparing and delivering meals to those in need.

A lifelong Christian, Marcella was baptized at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, east of Adair, Oklahoma. She later became a member of Our Saviour Lutheran in Tulsa. Marcella and Jerry became established members of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Claremore. Marcella enjoyed singing in the choir. She was active in LWML- The Lutheran Womens’ Missionary League, raising funds and working on Braille bibles for the blind for years. She looked forward to potluck dinners at the church, annual Schulze family reunions, and the church’s annual German Dinner.

Marcella was preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Louisa Schulze, siblings Martha, Elmer, George, and Oscar. She was also preceded by her husband, Jerry Brasel, and one great granddaughter, Isabel.

Marcella is survived by her sister, Bertha Willcutt, son Mike Brasel and his wife Jeanette, daughter Lori Lucero, and her husband Michael. She is survived by six grandchildren – Derek Brasel and his wife Lynsey, and Reid and Nathan Brasel, Whitney Rehburg and her husband Bruce, Westley Burns and his wife Lindsay, Emma Stanley and her husband Dan. She is also survived by three great grandchildren – Chloe Rehburg, and Liam and Nolan Burns. Service for Marcella will be at 10:00 am on Wednesday, September 3, 2025 at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 220 N Seminole, Claremore. Details available at MMS-Payne Funeral Service at mmsfuneralhomes.com