David Braun

David Joseph Braun, loving husband, father and brother, passed away peacefully and unexpectedly in his sleep May 28, 2022. Dave was an avid athlete, outdoorsman, telemark skier, environmental engineer, colleague, and friend. His steady approach to life, commitment to family, appreciation for the earth and environment, along with his dry wit and fun stories endeared him to family and friends alike. Dave was born in St. Paul Minnesota, the fifth of seven children of Florence K. and Walter C. Braun. His family moved to Colorado Springs when he was three and Dave attended Wasson High School. Dave also attended the University of Colorado Boulder as an Evans Scholar and met his wife Joanie while they were undergraduates. A professional engineer, Dave earned both a Bachelor of Arts in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology and a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from CU. In his long career, Dave worked for Stone & Webster, Harding Lawson Associates, APECS, TetraTek, CH2MHill and Tri-State. His work was varied and included water treatment, environmental remediation, power generation and transmission. His work took him all over the world, including 14 months in Iraq and Kuwait during the war, and most recently in Craig and Nucla, CO. Dave loved the outdoors and enjoyed tele skiing at Winter Park/Mary Jane, backcountry hut trips, golfing, hiking, biking and hunting. Dave successfully summited all of Colorado's 14ers and Argentina's Aconcagua, as well as numerous 13ers and technical rock climbs. Devoted to home and family, Dave spent much of his time devising and carrying out various home improvement projects and futzing in the yard. In addition to being the strong, dependable center of his own family, Dave maintained close, loving relationships with his siblings and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Linda Rhea, niece Mary Leah Braun, and brother Thomas Braun. He is survived by his wife, Joan McLean Braun, his son Greg, daughter Lindsay (Jack Friesen), grandson Cole Friesen, and siblings Larry (Margie), Bob (Madeleine), Patty (Chris Schneck) and John (Stephanie) as well as his nieces and nephews. There will be a celebration of life service on Sunday, July 17, 2022 at 2 pm at the Sunrise Amphitheater in Boulder. In lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory may be made to The Evans Scholar Foundation, Colorado Fourteeners Initiative, or the Nature Conservancy.