Frederick Branham Sr.

Frederick (Fred) Branham, Sr., 81, of Cloquet, formerly of Mahtowa, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 24, 2007, in St. Luke's Hospital, after a long illness. Fred was born Feb. 14, 1926 to Laurence and Mathilda (St. Germaine) Branham in Wrenshall, Minn. Fred grew up in Scanlon and attended school in Cloquet and Esko. Fred joined the U.S. Army and was involved in the European Theatre of World War II. He was honorably discharged in 1945. Fred married Dorothy Mae Borgen in Cloquet on Aug. 28, 1945. The couple initially settled in Scanlon and then moved to Mahtowa, where they made their home, and also lived in Cloquet for ten years. Fred was employed at Potlatch Corp. for 44 years, retiring in 1986 as superintendent of the finishing room. Fred returned to school to complete his education, graduating from UMD in 1971 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Sciences. Fred received an honorary high school diploma from Cloquet High School in 2000. Fred designed and built, with his wife, 'Twenty-Nine Pines Golf Course' in Mahtowa in 1979. As Commander of the Cloquet VFW Post 3979, Fred was instrumental in obtaining a vintage World War II tank to be placed in Veterans Park in Cloquet, serving as a memorial to area World War II veterans. Fred was an active member of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Esko. He was previously chairman of the building committee for Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Cloquet. Fred was an avid reader, historian of World War II, and active painter of scenery and locations. He is preceded in death by his parents and his sister Mae Champeaux. Fred is survived by his wife of 62 years, Dorothy; a son, Frederick (Linda) Branham, Jr. of Cloquet; a daughter, Constance (Jerry) DeRungs of Moose Lake; and eleven grandchildren, Frederick 'Bill' (Brandi) Branham III of Big Lake, Minn.; Taylor (Deann) Branham of Zimmerman, Minn.; Kyle (Sandra) Eller of Duluth; Michael (Angie) Green of Menomonie, Wis.; Jason (Patti) Branham of Plymouth, Minn.; Trudy (Jayme) Hackensmith of Zimmerman, Minn.; Angela (Greg) McQuin of Somerset, Wis.; Eric (Stacey) Eller of Cloquet; Donna (Lucas) LeKander of Moose Lake; Amy (Scott) Doran of Carlton; Samantha DeRungs of Moose Lake. He was also a loving great-grandfather of 31 great grandchildren. VISITATION:5-7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 26, 2007 at Nelson Funeral Care in Cloquet. The visitation will resume on Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2007 from 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. Celebration of his life at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Esko. Interment services will be at Maple Grove Cemetery in Cloquet with full military honors presented by the Cloquet Combined Honor Guard. Following interment services, there will be a time of fellowship and a luncheon in the church family center. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Matthew's Lutheran Church stain glass windows. The family has selected Nelson Funeral Care to assist them with arrangements. See their online guest book at www.legacy.com.
This obituary was originally published in the Duluth News Tribune.