Zoe Ann Bramham

Zoe Ann Bramham left us on September 23, 2017 to be with her mother Norma Olsen (Tu-tu) and ALL her cats. She was born in Council Bluff, Iowa on February 11, 1931. She was raised by her parents, Art and Norma Olsen in LaPorte City, Iowa until the age of 12 when they moved to Oakland, California. She was an accomplished diver on the one and three meter springboard. She won her first national diving championship at the age of 14. She went to the Olympics in London in 1948 where she won a silver medal. She took a break from diving and married Jack Jensen and gave birth to the first of three children, Jan (Lepke) in 1950. She started training for the 1952 Helsinki Olympics a week before the tryouts and made the team, where she won a bronze medal. She retired from diving and second child Jon came along in 1953 and her third, Jay in 1959. They settled in Crystal Bay, Nevada. She raised her children while supporting her husband Jack who played professional baseball. They eventually divorced in 1970 and she stayed active locally in Crystal Bay, Nevada. She drove the first school bus for the Incline/Crystal Bay area. She gave swim lessons and was the lifeguard for the community pool in Incline. She worked the 1960 Winter Olympics as a gate keeper for the slalom and giant slalom events. Zoe became a local blackjack dealer at the Cal/Neva casino. There is where she would meet her future husband Don Bramham. Don and Zoe were married in 1973 and stayed in Crystal Bay until 1988, then they moved to Stuart, Florida for Don’s job in government. Zoe being very independent enjoyed this new lifestyle. During this time she was an avid bowler. She became so good she made it to the national finals in St. Louis, Missouri. She would also play card games one day a week with Don’s brother Bill. They lived in Saudi Arabia for several years while Don worked for the government. They spent the next several years traveling often all over the world and on cruises with Zoe’s mother Norma in tow. After settling back in the states she enjoyed her passion, her cats. Always one or two, but never without a furry critter in the house. She could be seen walking the grounds of her house with the cats on a leash or by her side. They were inseparable. She was loved by all. She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Don. She was preceded in death by her son Jon and her grandson Jason Knapp. She is also survived by her children Jan Jensen-Lepke and Jay (Barbette) Jensen; her grandchildren Jaena Knapp, Scott Knapp, Zachary Burd, Nicholas (Brittney) Burd, Jacob Burd, Tucker Jensen, Jackie Jensen; her great-grandchildren Tayler, Kiley, Dawn, Jason, Adam, Aydden, Abel, and Graysen; her great-great-granddaughter Laila. She is also survived by Don’s children Becky Gillespie (granddaughter Lauren, great-granddaughter Avery), Lynn Bramham and Mark Bramham. Please send any donations to your local hospice.