Jolene Ellen Braymen

Jolene Ellen Braymen (née Munderloh) passed away peacefully on March 13, 2026, in San Jose, California, at the age of 89.

Born on April 28, 1936, in Pender, Nebraska, Jolene spent her formative years attending a one-room schoolhouse before graduating from Pender High School. She played piano and organ at her church and enjoyed sports as a cheerleader in high school. Her love of reading, competitive spirit, and passion for education led her to pursue higher learning at Nebraska Wesleyan University and later at UC Santa Cruz, where she earned a Master's Degree in Special Education.

Legend has it that she met Eugene (Gene) Braymen in the lunch line on her first day at Nebraska Wesleyan. After their marriage three years later, they embarked on a life together that was rich with love and adventure. Their journey took them across the United States and abroad, living in Maryland, Germany, New York, Nebraska, Illinois, Iowa, and Michigan before finally settling in Los Altos, California in 1973. Along the way, they were blessed with five children—each born in a different city.

Jolene began her teaching career in 1956 with roles in Lincoln, Baltimore, and Stuttgart. After dedicating herself to raising her children throughout the 1960s and 1970s, she returned to teaching in 1979. For many years she served as a Resource Specialist in the Special Education program at Edith Landels Elementary School in Mountain View, California. Jolene derived immense joy and fulfillment from her work with students and colleagues alike.

Over the years, Jolene embraced a wide variety of interests. She continued to play the piano, enjoyed antiques, and cultivated a lifelong love of gardening. Her fondness for ladybugs became a beloved hallmark among those who knew her well. She delighted in hosting gatherings at her home in California that were filled with warmth and hospitality. Guests could always count on finding soft, warm cookies on her counter alongside homemade apple pie or banana bread. She loved traveling—especially river cruises—and was an avid sports fan who closely followed the Golden State Warriors, Oakland A's, and the Nebraska Cornhuskers. She took great pride in her daughters' contributions to advancing women's athletics and celebrated the growing prominence of women's sports.

She loved to talk about the latest book she was reading. as well as politics, education, food, and family life. Time spent with Jolene often meant engaging in meaningful discussions filled with positivity and insight. She remained active through senior exercise classes at her local community center while keeping her mind sharp with crosswords, Sudoku, and an impressive array of challenging jigsaw puzzles, despite interference from her cat "Willa".

Family was central to Jolene's life. She was a devoted presence at her children's and grandchildren's concerts and sporting events—always enthusiastic and supportive. Her home was filled with kids, grandkids, friends, and pets, and the smell of something amazing just out of the oven.

Jolene was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Gene, and by her parents, Jack and Ella Munderloh of Pender. She leaves behind her brother Jay; five children; eight grandchildren; lifelong friends; neighbors; former students; colleagues; and many others whose lives she touched with kindness throughout nearly nine decades of life.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jolene's memory to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, the National Audubon Society, Nebraska Wesleyan University, or Animal Care Services of San Jose—organizations that reflect her diverse interests and enduring values.

Please post your pictures, memories and stories of Jolene for all to share and remember.