BRAY, Dr. Louis Bertrand 1929-2014

BRAY, JAEGER, GROGG, KRUSE, HAUPERT

Posted By: Jan Warren
Date: 10/23/2014 at 19:05:59

Source:Martin Brothers Funeral Home

Dr. Louis B. Bray, 85, of Waukon, IA, died Sunday, September 28, 2014 at the Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, October 4th at 11:00 am at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with burial at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 4:00 to 7:00 pm Friday, October 3rd at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon where there will be a 3:45 pm scripture service. Memorials may be directed to Veterans Memorial Hospital Healthcare Foundation and Good Samaritan Center, both of Waukon.

Dr. Louis Bertrand Bray was born on August 16, 1929 in Dubuque, IA. He was the son of Louis Bertrand and Dorothy Rose (Jaeger) Bray. He grew up in Dubuque where he graduated from Loras Academy High School and Loras College. Lou did his medical training at Loyola Medical School in Chicago, IL. He served his internship at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Cleveland, OH. While doing an externship during his last year in medical school at St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, IL, Lou met Gwenn Anna Grogg who was a student nurse there. The two of them were married on July 14, 1956 in Gwenn’s hometown of Garrett, IN. After checking out several locations, they decided they wanted to live in Waukon, IA, and Lou set up a practice there above Waukon State Bank in 1956. Not many months after he began, Lou was drafted into the military and served as a Major in the Air Force from 1957 until 1959, seeing most of his duty at Stead AFB in Reno, NV. Following his discharge he moved back to Waukon and joined Drs. C.R. and C.W. Rominger in their medical practice. He remained in Waukon his entire career working in partnership with a number of different doctors at Waukon Medical Associates and later being affiliated with Franciscan Skemp Medical System before retiring.

Lou was very involved in the community and was a member of Jaycees, a 49 year member of Kiwanis, served on the Allamakee County Board of Health for many years, and was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church and the St. Patrick School Board.

An avid outdoorsman, Lou enjoyed planting thousands of trees and employing conservation practices on his tree farms. He enjoyed hunting and fishing trips to Canada and out west and was an active member of Ducks Unlimited. Lou and Gwenn enjoyed spending time at their cabin at Heitman’s Landing in Harpers Ferry, IA, and traveling to many interesting places around the world, always centered on outdoor destinations. He was also a master woodworker making many pieces of fine furniture for their home and more recently crafting beautiful turned bowls and picture frames. Some of his other favorite activities were taking care of his hunting dogs, playing bridge and other card games, his daily session with the S&D Café coffee group, and family vacations to Waupaca, WI.

Survivors include his wife Gwenn of Waukon; 3 sons: Dr. Bruce (Dr. Laura) of Spooner, WI, Brian (Leslie) of Graham, NC, and Blake (Patricia) of Green Bay, WI; 8 grandchildren: Phillip (Clare), Rosy, Julie, Ben, Casey, Lexie, Amy, and Scott; 2 sisters: Barbara Kruse and Marianne (Carl) Haupert, both of Dubuque; and a sister-in-law Elizabeth Bray also of Dubuque. He is preceded in death by his parents; a daughter Betsy Anne Bray; a brother Jack; and a brother-in-law Bill Kruse.