I wish I had had the chance to know my paternal grandpa, Gerhard Brase (March 13, 1921 - January 25, 1992). He died from colon cancer when I was 3 years old.

My last night in Oregon was spent with my 13 year old cousin Claire, my aunt Julie, uncle Tom, step mom Katy, and my dad sharing family stories which eventually led to us discussing the Brase family which then led to my dad, aunt Julie and I trying to google the Brase family history.

My dad ended up finding a thesis my grandpa (his dad) wrote for Wartburg Theological Seminary in 1944 called “An Interpretation of the Scriptural Accounts of Demon-Possession”. He’s also mentioned in “Kakteen und andere Sukkulenten vol. 55” which translates to “Cacti and Other Succulents”