Edwin J. Braun

Edwin J. Braun, 86, Breckenridge, MN, died December 5, 2007 at St. Francis Healthcare Campus in Breckenridge.

     Edwin Joseph Braun was born December 26, 1920, at White Rock, SD to Henry and Mary (Kraus) Braun.  He attended Moreland School through the 8th grade and then farmed with his dad and brothers.  In March, 1945, he entered the Navy, where on the first day he met his best friend and future brother-in-law, Kenny Anderson.  He was discharged from the Navy in July, 1946.  Edwin was united in marriage to Gertrude Ann Mooney on October 2, 1947 in Hillsboro, ND.  The couple made their home near Breckenridge where they farmed and raised their ten children.  Edwin retired from farming in 1982 and they moved to a home near Pelican Rapids, MN.  In July, 2006, they moved back to Breckenridge to have their retirement home built that they moved into in January, 2007.

     Edwin enjoyed fishing, snowmobiling, photography, woodworking, and was an avid reader.  He was a do-it-yourself carpenter and repairman and helped build the current St. Mary's Church in Breckenridge. Ed served on the Breckenridge Township Board for over 30 years, was a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters, served as a church usher and put in countless volunteer hours at both St. Mary's Church in Breckenridge and St. Leonard's Catholic Church in Pelican Rapids, MN.  He had a very keen memory and loved storytelling, especially about his Navy days and other life experiences. He also loved to visit with anyone, for to him, no one was a stranger for long. Edwin's greatest enjoyment came from time he spent with his family.            

     He is survived by: His loving wife of 60 years: Gertrude Braun, Breckenridge, MN, His children: Mary (Leo) Gregoire, Wahpeton, ND; Allen (Kathy) Braun, Farmington, MN; Stephen Braun, St Paul, MN; Joseph (Cindy) Braun, Mooreton, ND; Kathleen (Bruce) Schmit, Fairmount, ND; Cindy Swenson, Fergus Falls, MN; Theresa (John) Walter, Doran, MN; Beth (John) Humrich, O'Neil, NE; Tom Braun, St. Cloud, MN; His daughter-in-law: Lynn (Gary) Gresge, Arvada, CO; 28 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; 6 step-grandchildren; 1 step great-granddaughter; His brothers and sisters: Henrietta Klein, Richard (Gladys) Braun, Gilbert (Marcella) Braun, Donald (Annamae) Braun, Delmar (Margaret) Braun, and Maurice (Dorothy) Braun, all of Rosholt, SD; and Marietta (Rodney) Bullis, Nashua, MN; His sisters-in-law: Marcella (Vincent) Braun, Margaret Anderson and Theone Mooney; Many nieces and nephews

      He is preceded in death by: His son: James Edwin Braun; His parents: Henry and Mary Braun; His mother-in-law and father-in-law: Margaret and James Mooney; His great-grandsons: Hayden Gregoire and Isaiah Pudwill; His sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: William Klein, Mary Mooney, Leo and Mary Mooney, Red and Margaret Mooney, Vincent and Dolly Mooney, Francis Mooney, Sister Agnes Mooney, Kenneth L. Anderson

Visitation: Sunday, December 9, 2007, 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM with a Prayer Service at 7:00 PM at Joseph Vertin & Sons Funeral Home, Breckenridge, MN; there will also be visitation on Monday at the funeral home from 10:00 AM until the time of the funeral

Funeral: Monday, December 10, 2007 at 1:00 P.M. at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Breckenridge, MN

Officiating:     Fr. Kenneth Popp           

Interment:     St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Breckenridge, MN with military rites by the Wilkin County Honor Guard

     

Pallbearers: All of Edwin's grandsons, Brian Gregoire, Kevin Gregoire, Mark Braun, Kelly Braun, Michael Schmit, Tyler Schmit, Jacob Swenson, Joshua Walter and Nicholas Humrich