Valeria "Val" Braun

Valeria J. “Val” Braun, age 102 of Sauk Centre, passed away peacefully, (just ten days before her 103rd birthday) surrounded by her family on Friday, March 31 at Fairway Pines Assisted Living in Sauk Centre, Minnesota.  

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 5 at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. Marvin Enneking officiating and Rev. Greg Paffel concelebrating.  Interment will be in the parish cemetery.  

Visitation will be held from 4 - 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre. Christian Mothers and St. Theresa’s Mission Group will pray at 4 p.m. followed by parish prayers at 7 p.m. Tuesday evening at the funeral home.  

Valeria Johanna Mader was born on April 10, 1920, in Greenwald, Minnesota, to Christ and Agnes (Kramer) Mader. She was united in marriage to Alfred Braun on June 18, 1940, at St. Andrew's Catholic Church in Greenwald. Val was a loving wife and mother and served as a homemaker most of her life. Her family was her priority, and until her dying day, she enjoyed many visits from her children and grandchildren. Her listening, non-judgemental spirit, positive attitude, sense of humor, and fantastic memory drew many to love her.

Before marriage, she worked as a telephone operator. After raising her family, she was employed at St. Michael's Hospital. She was a Saint Paul's Catholic Church member in Sauk Centre, Christian Mothers, and the St. Theresa Mission Group and enjoyed volunteering at Holy Family School. Val had a knack for making many crafts and enjoyed crocheting afghans and prayer shawls for others. Raising African Violets and other plants was another talent in which she excelled. Her loving touch included her companion dogs, especially her poodle, Piper, and schnauzer, Alex.

Survivors include her children, Robert Braun of Melrose, Sister Janine Braun, OSB of Sauk Centre, Kathleen (Theodore) Anderson of Kimball, Beth Thieschafer Sieben (Kevin) of Melrose, and John (Patricia) Braun of Lakeville, daughter-in-law, Rita Ritter of Sauk Centre; 15 grandchildren, 43 great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren.

Val was preceded in death by her husband, Alfred, on November 14, 1985; parents, Christ and Agnes Mader; son, Ronald Braun, on March 5, 1993; brothers: Elmer and Stanley Mader; sister, Marcella Fuchs; son-in-law, Glen Thieschafer; daughters-in-law, Mary Braun and Irene Braun; granddaughter, Mary Braun; and great-grandson, Logan Braun.