Veletta Idel, the daughter of A. Wayne and Alice (Johnson) Bravener, was born October 18, 1911 on a farm near Frederika, Iowa.  She was the oldest of eight children.  Veletta attended country school at Frederika #1.  At the age of eighteen, she moved to Waterloo, Iowa and worked for Chamberlains and Hinsons.  Veletta married John Johnston and later moved to Iowa City, Iowa.  She worked at Moore Business Forms for twenty years before retiring and moving back to Frederika.

     Veletta’s death occurred Monday, November 16, 2009 at the Bartels Lutheran Retirement Home in Waverly, Iowa, from natural causes.  She was ninety-eight years old.  Veletta was a member of the Frederika United Methodist Church.  She enjoyed sewing and especially making dolls.  She had a green thumb, but never took much credit.  She was a good driver and was driving in Waterloo when she was in her nineties.

     Veletta is survived by two sons, Joseph (Amanda) Johnston of Iowa City, Iowa; and Thomas (Catherine) Johnston of Waverly, Iowa; six grandsons; two granddaughters; thirteen great grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; one sister, LaDonna (Robert) Bergmann of Frederika, Iowa; and two brothers, Adelbert Bravener of Greenwood, Wisconsin; and William Bravener of Tripoli, Iowa.

     Veletta was preceded in death by her husband, John, who died on November 21, 1962; an infant daughter, JoAnn; her parents; and four sisters, Valeria Schwartz, Cleona Sonday, Lucille Bravener, and Claire White.  

          Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, November 20, 2009 at the Frederika United Methodist Church. Pastor Sheryl Hull will be the officiant. Friends may call from 4:00 p.m., until 7:00 p.m., Thursday, November 19, 2009 at Rettig Funeral Home in Tripoli and for one hour preceding services at the church on Friday. Interment will be at Alcock Cemetery, Frederika, Iowa.