Cara R. Brehm

Cara Brehm, wife of Harold E. Brehm of Tacoma, WA, died at the age of 95 years on 6/12/2023. She was born to Scott & Columbia Walker on April 15, 1928 on a farm near Iowa City, IA. She grew up & was educated on a farm outside of Iowa City, Iowa, graduating from Lone Tree High School. Cara then attended the University of Iowa for 2 years, earning a Business Degree. Then she went to work for Western Union Telegraph & was a manager there for several years. On June 14, 1953, she married Harold E. Brehm in Bayard, NE In 1954. They moved to Seattle, WA, where they raised their two daughters. In 1975, they moved to Mountain Home, ID. Throughout the years, Cara was employed with Seattle and Mountain Home school districts in. In 2000, Cara and Harold returned to Tacoma, to be near their grandchildren.

Cara was active in the Camp Fire Program for over forty years, holding many offices including the Presidency of the Ma-Tre-Val Council for 2 years. She continued to be a group leader even after her children had grown out of the program. She received many awards in Camp Fire including the Luther Halsey Gulick and the Fredrick Ruccius awards. As a volunteer for the American Legion Auxiliary in Mountain Home, she held many positions & was president, but she was mostly know for her weekly pie baking. People would compete to buy a piece of her pie, all of which were savory. In March, 1989, Cara was honored by the Idaho Statesman with Distinguished Citizens award, and in 1994, she was awarded the Jefferson award for her many hours of volunteering, including manning the suicide hotline in Mountain Home.

Over the last 20 years, Cara was actively involved in Resurrection Lutheran Church by quilting, gardening, baking, & more pie making. In 2018, she moved to Brookdale Foundation House, Federal Way. She continued to be involved in her church AND made & donated card holders, bibs, & bean bag heaters for the store. She volunteered to cut over 100 people's hair during COVID Lock-down & made over 100 face masks. She started the Be-Fit with Cara class and created the "Cara Salad" that many people order at Brookdale.

Cara Brehm is survived by her 2 daughters, Sally Ring of Lake Stevens, WA, & Katherine LaPella of Federal Way, WA, with their spouses, William Ring, Arthur LaPella. She is also survived by her two grandchildren, Sam LaPella & Anna LaPella and 18 nieces/nephews & over 30 great nieces/nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Harold E. Brehm, her parents Scott and Columbia Walker, and her two brothers Scott Walker, II, and Robert Walker. The family suggests that memorials be made to Camp Fire, Center Puget Sound Council, Seattle or Resurrection Lutheran Church or the American Cancer Society.