Eleonore Machen

Eleonore Bräutigam Machen, age 94, of Vestavia, AL, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, September 26, 2018. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Hoover, AL, and attended Lagoon Baptist Church and Shell Banks Baptist Church when she was in Gulf Shores.

She is survived by her sister Renate Goris (Klaus) of Nordlingen, Germany; 5 Children: Lore Tarrance (Marvin) of Keller, TX; Van Machen (Ginnie) of Tannehill, AL; Lee Machen (Renee) of Dacula, GA; Peter Machen (ReRe) of Gulf Shores, AL; and Susan George of Chelsea, AL; 10 Grandchildren: Nikki Goforth, David Tarrance, Mary Esther Machen, Kristen Lowe, Nan Sosebee, Nathan Machen, Tim Machen, Nick Smelcer, Benny Smelcer, Danny Smelcer; and 13 Great Grandchildren: Devan, Sierra, and Noah Goforth; Ava Thigpen; Mackenlee and Hudson Sosebee; James, Sam, Eli, and Luke Smelcer; and Jillian, Janelle, and Johanna Smelcer.

Eleonore was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Rev. Otho Harding Machen; her parents Lorenz Bräutigam and Margarete Babette (Betty) Heiler Käefer; brothers Helmut Bräutigam, Erwin Bräutigam, Gerd Bräutigam, Horst Käefer; son Rudy Samuel Machen and grandson Trey Tarrance.

During WWII, Eleonore was a Lieutenant in the Deutsche Luftwaffe over radar installations in Northern Europe with 60 women under her command.  After the war she met her future husband who was in the United States Army Signal Corp occupational forces in Germany, and she came to America in 1947.  She worked at Sears where she was a salesperson and taught cooking classes.  She co-ministered with her husband in his ministries at the various churches he pastored, going on 26 mission trips in the States, Caribbean Islands, and in South America. She was an accomplished seamstress and gourmet cook.  She loved to bake German-style apple pies and take them to friends and to people she and her husband visited for the church.

Visitation will be at 10:00 AM, and the funeral service will be at 11:00 AM on Saturday, September 29, 2018 at the First Baptist Church of Hoover, AL, 2025 Patton Chapel Road, Hoover, AL 35216, the Dr. Randy Atkinson officiating.  Following the funeral service, there will be a graveside service at 3:00 PM at the Evergreen Memorial Cemetery, 1501 Talladega Highway, Sylacauga, AL.  The family would like to thank Comfort Care Hospice of Foley, AL and two special caregivers, Sue Callaway, Catherine Nelson, and Glenda Nelson Bobo for providing care for her.