She was born May 25, 1949, at the Evangelical Deaconess Hospital in Marshalltown, Iowa to Henry Myron and Josephine Mae Huston Bru. She was the oldest of eight children. They lived their first eight years on a farm in Van Cleve, Iowa, then relocated to their life-long home in Montezuma, Iowa. More specifically, Ewart, Iowa. There she attended school, belonged to 4-H, babysat and was a life-long member of the Ewart Presbyterian Church. A church to which attributes a great deal of her strength and success and life growth. She graduated from Montezuma High School in 1967 and was employed at Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance. She was united in marriage to Carl Tratchel in 1968 and to this union sons Todd and Bret were born. While married, they lived in Newton, Iowa, was employed at Embassy Manor as a medication aide for many years prior to divorce. In 1980, she graduated from Marshalltown Community School of Nursing and moved from nurses aide position to Registered Nurse position at Iowa Veteran’s Home where she would serve many roles of her nursing career and achieve things beyond her own beliefs. She became well respected and known for, “would never ask you to do anything she hasn’t done and mastered herself!” In 1989, she graduated with dual Bachelor Degree’s – one in Nursing and one in Psychology, both from Buena Vista University. At this time, she was also a state HIV/AIDS educator traveling the entire state often with a person with AIDS dispelling fear, rumors and teaching safety and educating the public. She was a leader in nursing issues such as pain control, Hospice, HIV/AIDS, and contributes working at the Veteran’s Home giving her the knowledge, insight, and strength to do that. In her off time, she enjoyed decorating her home, gardening, flowers and birds. She always had time to help others and would care for others in their homes so they could remain there. She was an active member of Iowa Nurses Association, American Nurses Association, VFW Post 8876, State Ombudsman, Ewart Presbyterian Church, and the Newton Baptist Temple.

Jolene is survived by her sons; Todd (Jo Anne) Tratchel of Grinnell and Bret (Stephanie) Tratchel of Cedar Falls; grandchildren, Tommy and Carlie Tratchel, Chelsea Backman, Ashley (John) Duley, Jeffrey Tratchel, Peyton (Noah) Clay and Kale (Bryce) Smith; and great grandchildren, Bo, Luke, Mark, Addilynn and Piper; brothers, Dan (Rachel), David, Bob, Dennis (Tina), Kevin (Tammy) and a sister, Jana Bru; significant other, Lonnee Pickering; and many other nieces, nephews and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Josephine Bru, brother, Gary, nephew, Timothy and sister-in-law Carolyn.