BRAUN, Donald D. 1921-2019

BRAUN, DONAHOE, MARTIN, JOHNSON

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/13/2019 at 20:04:16

Donald Daniel Braun, 98, passed away at the Cedar Valley Hospice Home of Waterloo, on Thursday, September 19, 2019. He was born April 23, 1921, in Philadelphia, PA, son of Gustav and Rachel (Donahoe) Braun. Don graduated with the Lansdowne High School Class of 1940 then enlisted in the United States Army. He served with the 40th Signal Company in the Philippines as a high speed radio operator. Following an honorable discharge from the military, Don attended Drexel College in Philadelphia where he trained to be an Industrial Engineer. He was married to Bernice Martin in 1943 and she preceded him in death. Don was working as a consultant with John Deere when he met Lorraine Johnson. They were married on December 23, 1978, in Cedar Falls. Don retired from John Deere in June of 1986.

Don was preceded in death by his parents; and brothers, Walter and Gus Braun. He is survived by Lorraine, his wife of nearly 41 years; 4 daughters: Barbara Braun of Ocean City, NJ; Ann (Steve) Doeden of Cedar Falls; Tricia (David) Welter of Cedar Falls; and Janet (Larry) Wessels of Cedar Falls; 10 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren.

Don’s funeral service will be held on Monday, September 23, 2019 at 10:30 am in the Worship Center at Nazareth Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cedar Falls with burial at the Elmwood Cemetery of Dike. A visitation will take place on Sunday, September 23, 2019 from 3-5:00 pm at Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home of Cedar Falls. Memorials may be directed to Nazareth Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Don was a lifelong adventurer and grew up sailing on the ocean which continued when he and Lorraine were at their vacation home in Door County, WI. They also motorcycled together across the United States and learned ballroom dancing. Don was always athletic and enjoyed swimming, wrestling in high school, playing tennis into his eighties, and organizing family bike rides (Squeals on Wheels) into his nineties. He was also a skilled woodworker and made a special gift for each of the grandchildren when they graduated high school. Don kept up the skills he learned in the military and belonged to a Ham Radio Operator club. He will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved him.

--Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home(www.dahlfuneralhome.com)