Obituary for Claire Louise Brenner (Martinen)
Claire Louise Martinen Brenner, 80, of Lititz, passed away on Thursday, April 1, 2021, at Penn
Medicine Lancaster General Hospital.
She was born in Ishpeming, MI to the late Edward and Marie (Rajala) Martinen and shared 55
years of marriage with Frederick R. Brenner until he died in 2017. She was also preceded in
death by her stepfather, Arne Makela, and her son, Steven E. Brenner.
Claire retired from her role as a trust officer for Ephrata National Bank after more than 18 yearsof service. Outside of work, Fred and Claire loved to travel. They returned to Michigan every
summer, visited Hawaii regularly, and made trips to Latin America, Europe, and the Caribbean
after retiring. A member of Reformed Presbyterian Church, Ephrata, Claire served in many
capacities over the years, including rocking babies in the nursery, singing in the choir, and
counting the weekly offering. Claire enjoyed crosswords and was a competitive Scrabble
contender, especially with her sisters across the table. In retirement, Fred and Claire adopted
their rascally dog Gonzo, who subsequently became the center of their household. Gonzo was a
constant source of comfort and mutual affection, especially in the years after Fred passed.
Claire is survived by her late son Steve’s family; wife Shelly (Short) Brenner, Blackwell, MO and
grandchildren Rachel Brenner, Arnold, MO and Mitchell Brenner, St. Petersburg, FL; daughter
Danita (Irvin) Martin of Auburn and granddaughters Jessamy (Joshua) May, Junction City, OR
and Kristin (Barry Jr.) Kramer, New Holland; daughter Amy (R. Jeffrey) Auker of Lititz and
grandchildren Erica Auker, Philadelphia, Nathan (Veronica) Auker, Lititz, and Annie (Peter)
Michael, Lititz; and daughter Tanya Worley and grandson Connor Worley, Ephrata;
great-grandchildren, Damien Treloar, Lydia Treloar, and Lucien May, Summer, Wayne, and
Christian Kramer, Dalaney Auker, and Eleanor Michael. Claire is also survived by her four
sisters, Kay Ellen (Jack) Perala, Las Vegas, NV, Julie (Mark) Carlton, Calumet, MI, Audrey (Ted)
Deur, Ishpeming, MI, and Laura (Kevin) Roberts, Gwinn, MI.
Claire will be remembered for her generous and loving spirit and her “sisu” (Finnish for “grit”) in
the face of adversity.
A memorial service is scheduled for 6:30 PM on Friday, April 23 at Reformed Presbyterian
Church in Ephrata, with visitation at 6:00 PM. Fred and Claire will be interred together at
Indiantown Gap National Cemetery.
In place of flowers, memorial contributions in Claire's memory may be made to Serge Ministries,
a global mission organization, or a charity close to your heart.
Arrangements by Stradling Funeral Homes, Inc., Akron/Ephrata.
Medicine Lancaster General Hospital.
She was born in Ishpeming, MI to the late Edward and Marie (Rajala) Martinen and shared 55
years of marriage with Frederick R. Brenner until he died in 2017. She was also preceded in
death by her stepfather, Arne Makela, and her son, Steven E. Brenner.
Claire retired from her role as a trust officer for Ephrata National Bank after more than 18 yearsof service. Outside of work, Fred and Claire loved to travel. They returned to Michigan every
summer, visited Hawaii regularly, and made trips to Latin America, Europe, and the Caribbean
after retiring. A member of Reformed Presbyterian Church, Ephrata, Claire served in many
capacities over the years, including rocking babies in the nursery, singing in the choir, and
counting the weekly offering. Claire enjoyed crosswords and was a competitive Scrabble
contender, especially with her sisters across the table. In retirement, Fred and Claire adopted
their rascally dog Gonzo, who subsequently became the center of their household. Gonzo was a
constant source of comfort and mutual affection, especially in the years after Fred passed.
Claire is survived by her late son Steve’s family; wife Shelly (Short) Brenner, Blackwell, MO and
grandchildren Rachel Brenner, Arnold, MO and Mitchell Brenner, St. Petersburg, FL; daughter
Danita (Irvin) Martin of Auburn and granddaughters Jessamy (Joshua) May, Junction City, OR
and Kristin (Barry Jr.) Kramer, New Holland; daughter Amy (R. Jeffrey) Auker of Lititz and
grandchildren Erica Auker, Philadelphia, Nathan (Veronica) Auker, Lititz, and Annie (Peter)
Michael, Lititz; and daughter Tanya Worley and grandson Connor Worley, Ephrata;
great-grandchildren, Damien Treloar, Lydia Treloar, and Lucien May, Summer, Wayne, and
Christian Kramer, Dalaney Auker, and Eleanor Michael. Claire is also survived by her four
sisters, Kay Ellen (Jack) Perala, Las Vegas, NV, Julie (Mark) Carlton, Calumet, MI, Audrey (Ted)
Deur, Ishpeming, MI, and Laura (Kevin) Roberts, Gwinn, MI.
Claire will be remembered for her generous and loving spirit and her “sisu” (Finnish for “grit”) in
the face of adversity.
A memorial service is scheduled for 6:30 PM on Friday, April 23 at Reformed Presbyterian
Church in Ephrata, with visitation at 6:00 PM. Fred and Claire will be interred together at
Indiantown Gap National Cemetery.
In place of flowers, memorial contributions in Claire's memory may be made to Serge Ministries,
a global mission organization, or a charity close to your heart.
Arrangements by Stradling Funeral Homes, Inc., Akron/Ephrata.