Brenda K. Schunke

Brenda K. Schunke, age 53, of Ottawa, passed away Wednesday October 13, 2021 at OSF St Elizabeth Medical Center.

It is with deep sorrow and much love that we mourn the passing of our beloved mother, wife, sister, aunt, and best friend Brenda. She will always be remembered for her strength and strong will, she fought through numerous medical issues for over 20 years, but she always remained positive and she never gave up.

Brenda was born on August 29, 1968 in Ottawa, Illinois to Charles and Louise (Haage) Harris Sr. She attended grade school at Wallace Grade School and high school at Ottawa High School. On July 29, 1992, Brenda married the love of her life, Leo Schunke Jr in Ottawa. She will be lovingly remembered by her husband of 29 years, Leo; her children: Emily Hughes (AJ) and Matt Schunke (Libby); her grandchildren: Griffin Hughes and Gavin Hughes; her mother, Louise Harris, and her siblings Nancy Kein, Charles (Beverly) Harris Jr, and Richard Harris. Brenda was preceded in death by her father and her sister, Karen Ceja.

Brenda was an amazing woman, who was extremely kind and caring with her family, friends and pets. She had the most infectious laughter and a keen sense of humor, you couldn’t help but be in a better mood when you were with her. Brenda always enjoyed an adventure, and through the years there were many. She enjoyed traveling to the beach so she could put her toes in the sand and hear the waves rolling in. She also had a love for animals. Her dogs were like her kids and stray cats were frequently drawn to her to be rescued. Most of all Brenda was a devoted grandmother to Griffin and Gavin, they were truly the light of her life. Sitting on her porch with them and going for rides in the Jeep were everything to her. She will also be dearly missed by her family, which includes many nieces and nephews, and her best friends.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 P.M. Monday, October 18th at Gladfelter-Roetker Funeral Home with the Reverend Jennifer Amy-Dressler officiating. Interment will follow in Ottawa Avenue Cemetery with her nephews serving as pallbearers. Visitation will be from 11:00 A.M. till service time Monday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the family. To share a memory, please visit www.gladfelter-roetker.com or Gladfelter-Roetker Funeral Home on Facebook.