Brunhilde Berta Fingerlin's Obituary
Brunhilde Berta Fingerlin, a woman of grace, warmth, and quiet strength, passed away peacefully on October 15, 2025, in Bixby, Oklahoma, at the age of 89.
Born on April 5, 1936, in Dossenbach, Germany, to Hans and Elsa (Bühler) Fingerlin, Brunhilde grew up in a close-knit family surrounded by the rhythms of rural life within the Schwarzwald (The Black Forest). Hard work was essential, as the family’s land included forested areas requiring regular maintenance. Though the family home, complete with cows, pigs, chickens, and a vegetable garden, was in town, their days often spent in the fields cutting hay by hand and tending to orchards of cherries, apples, and plums. Her father, Hans, also worked as a butcher. Their only entertainment was the radio—but Brunhilde always had a song in her heart. She was known for her gentle spirit and never had a bad word to say about anyone.
In the postwar years, Dossenbach thrived as a small town with a strong sense of community and extended family. It was there that Brunhilde met Eugene Fingerlin Jr, an American Army serviceman stationed in Germany during the Korean Conflict. They married on March 31, 1956, in Dossenbach. Brunhilde was the first among her family in Dossenbach to wear a white wedding gown—a symbol of new beginnings and a departure from tradition.
Later that year, the couple immigrated to the United States, where Gene pursued his veterinary degree at Oklahoma State University. Brunhilde proudly became a naturalized American citizen on May 1, 1961. Together, they built a life rooted in love, hard work, and family. Brunhilde devoted herself to raising their children, Jimmy, John, and Karen, and later supported Gene’s veterinary practice as the receptionist at Bixby Small Animal Hospital after they moved to Bixby in 1972. Her kindness and ease with people made her a beloved presence in the clinic and the community.
Brunhilde and Gene shared a passion for gardening, cultivating a 75-by-50-foot garden that overflowed with beans, tomatoes, and other produce. One harvest was so abundant that they sold extra tomatoes by the bagful. These simple joys—tending the garden, raising a family, and serving others—defined Brunhilde’s life.
She is survived by her children, Jimmy Eugene Fingerlin, John Rudy Fingerlin and his wife Deanna, Karen Elsa Fingerlin; grandchildren, Jenna Fingerlin, Justin Jelley, and Polly Kiker and her husband Cody; great-grandchildren, Garen Jelley and Judith Camp; her brother Heinz Fingerlin and his wife Heidi; and many extended family members in Germany.
Brunhilde was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Eugene Fingerlin Jr; her parents, Hans and Elsa Fingerlin; her sister, Rita Schönauer and her husband, Walter; and her brother, Gerd Fingerlin and his wife, Marta.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at Floral Haven Funeral Home. A funeral service celebrating Brunhilde’s life will take place at 3:00 PM on Friday, October 24, 2025, at the Floral Haven Funeral Home Chapel.
Brunhilde’s legacy of kindness, resilience, and love will live on in the hearts of all who knew her. She will be deeply missed.
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