Lois Van Brackle

Lois Jean Van Brackle nee Holsclaw was born on June 22, 1935, in Leesburg Florida to Ralph and Ginnie Holsclaw. She spent her early years in Howey in the Hills, Florida.

The family moved to Orlando to a home in the Delaney Park area when she was 8 years old. Jean loved her home and enjoyed music, piano, singing and horseback riding. She was an excellent student and was two years ahead of students her age.

She loved her parents. She was an only child, and was extremely close to her mother, who was a teacher.

Early in her high school years she met and fell in love with Joseph David "Joe" Van Brackle. Eager to start a new life together they married young and soon moved to Atlanta.

Joe joined the Navy and they found themselves in Whidbey Island, Washington State where she saw her first snow.

Then they were off to Hawaii! Upon returning to Florida, they settled into their first home in Orlando in the Azalea Park neighborhood.

There, their children Karen and David joined the family. Later, they moved to the Conway/Dover Shores area.

Preferring to be called by her middle name, Jean, she loved her family, and was a long-time member of Park Lake Presbyterian Church where she was an active choir member for 20 plus years.

She had a very strong Christian faith that she shared with all, and it brought her great joy and comfort.

Jean also loved singing and performing with the Bach Choir for many years, and later with the Celebration Singers at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church.

She had an abiding love for animals and particularly cats, always caring for pet cats in her home and stray cats in her neighborhood.

She is survived by her children, Karen Elaine McMinn and David Ross Van Brackle, grandchildren Nicole Anne Benish and Forrest Matthew McMinn, and great-grandchildren Ava and Aiden Benish.